2 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
plicated structure of the field as a whole, and as the out- 
come of this work we have the map in its present form. It 
will, however, not be amiss to say, that during this period 
from 1883 to the present time, only about three years’ work 
has been done at the expense of the State, the remaining 
time having been occupied in surveys aud explorations in 
this field for individuals and companies, with the under- 
standing, however, that the results of these surveys should 
eventually be turned over to the State to be used in the 
preparation of this map and report. The two, who have in 
this way contributed most largely to this work, are Truman 
H. Aldrich and Henry F. DeBardeleben. It would be im- 
possible to overestimate the public spirit and liberality of 
men who thus freely present to the State for the benefit of 
all, the information acquired at great expense to them- 
selves. 
In the report, I have not gone into much detail in the de- 
scription of the different parts of the field, for the reason 
that the map is constructed to show as nearly as possible, 
every thing that we know concerning the Cahaba field. 
Very respectfully, 
JOSEPH SQUIRE. 
