Geology of North Carolina. 231 



known, is exciting considerable attention at this day ; and in 

 one of our largest states, intelligent and public spirited indi- 

 viduals have undertaken the work on a scale worthy of their 

 distinguished character. From the very commendable spirit 

 for internal improvements that is pervading all classes of the 

 community, may we not hope, that ere long this subject will 

 not be urged in vain upon the representatives of any state. 

 What an accession would be made to our resources, and to 

 a knowledge of our country, were a thorough examination to 

 be instituted into our mineralogical, geological, and, even 

 botanical riches ! How worthy the genius of our govern- 

 ments to have an accurate geological map, with an ac- 

 companying report, accessible to all our citizens ! Individual 

 naturalists are indeed doing much towards the accomplish- 

 ment of such a work : but the pleasure derived from scien- 

 tific discovery is almost their only reward ; and without pa- 

 tronage, they cannot for many decades of years accomplish 

 the enterprize. 



As the report of Prof. Olmsted was intended for the com- 

 munity at large, he has wisely avoided, as far as possible, 

 technical phraseology. He has also dwelt most upon those 

 substances which are of practical utility, and most of those 

 facts, that would interest only the scientific man, he has 

 thrown into the notes. The first part of the report gives an 

 account of the country immediately west of Raleigh ; the 

 second part describes all that part of the state between Ra- 

 leigh and the ocean ; and to these two parts, there are added 

 observations on the geology of the western section of the 

 state. In this order was the state examined : But in the ex- 

 tracts we propose to make, we shall begin on the sea board 

 and proceed westward, because this order will lead us in suc- 

 cession across the different geological formations; begin- 

 ning with the tertiary, and passing across the secondary to 

 the primary. 



We call that part of the state tertiary, which is usually de- 

 nominated alluvial ; but with about as much propriety, in 

 our opinion, as if one were to speak of granite as alluvial. 

 This part of the state, extending westward from the ocean 

 nearly one hundred and fifty miles, is called by the inhabit- 

 ants the "Low Country." It consists of regular alternating 

 beds of sand and clay, with occasional masses of sandstone 

 and limestone abounding in marine organic remains. The 

 regularity of its beds, and its different mode of formation. 



