THE NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY OF NEW YORK 241 



This survey was established at the expressed wish of the peo- 

 ple to have some definite and positive knowledge of the mineral 

 resources and the vegetable and animal productions of the state. 



Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer was the patron of the first enter- 

 prise of this kind, and had published much valuable information, 

 but it was felt that a more thorough investigation was needed. 

 The idea was fully expressed in a memorial presented by the 

 Albany Institute to the state legislature in 1834, in which the 

 object was thus stated: 'to form a grand and comprehensive 

 collection of the natural productions of the state of New York; 

 to exhibit at one view, and under one roof, its animal, vegetable 

 and mineral wealth.' 



In 1835 the New York Lyceum of Natural History presented a 

 memorial to the legislature on the same subject, and it is pre- 

 sumed that this memorial and the influences prompting the re- 

 quest of the Albany Institute, induced the legislature of 1835 to 

 pass a resolution requesting the secretary of state to report to 

 that body a plan for ' a complete geological survey of the state, 

 which should furnish a scientific and perfect account of its rocks, 

 soils and minerals; also a list of its mineralogical, botanical and 

 zoological productions, and provide for procuring and preserving 

 specimens of the same, etc' 



Pursuant to this request, Hon. John A. Dix, then secretary of 

 state, presented to the legislature of 1836, a report proposing a 

 plan for a complete geological, botanical and zoological survey 



of the state. 5 



The scientific staff of the natural history survey of 1837 was 

 appointed by Governor Seward pursuant to an act of the legis- 

 lature and consisted of John Torrey, botanist, James E. De Kay, 

 zoologist, Lewis C. Beck, mineralogist, W. W. Mather, Ebenezer 

 Emmons, Lardner Vanuxem and James Hall, geologists, and 

 Timothy A. Conrad, paleontologist. The state was divided into 

 four districts, each of which was assigned to a geologist in the 



order given. j 



The heads of the several departments reported annually to the 

 governor the results of their investigations, and these constituted 



