rl6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of the State, and has prepared a paper on these subjects, which 

 is included in the present report. The growing interest in this 

 country in the uses of peat makes this investigation a matter 

 of general importance and it seems probable that as soon as suf- 

 ficient capital has been invested to make practical tests of the 

 methods of utilizing this material, it will become more exten- 

 sively a matter of commercial importance. 



This review of the peat industries and the occurrence of the 

 material in New York State is only preliminary and further field 

 work is being carried on for the preparation of an extended 

 report, giving descriptions of the various important deposits of 

 peat which occur within the limits of the State. 



A report on the lime and cement industries of New York by 

 the same author, to which Mr Edwin C. Eckel has contributed 

 several chapters, is now in type and will soon be issued as 

 Museum bulletin 44. A short paper on the geology of molding 

 sand is contributed to this report by Mr Eckel. 



The chief work of the office in economic geology has been 

 the preparation of an exhibit of the mineral resources of the 

 State for the Pan-American Exposition. This exhibit was made 

 up with the help of an appropriation of about $9000 from the 

 state board of managers, and at the close of the exposition will 

 be installed in Geological Hall. In the progress of the work, 

 statistics, which will form the subject of a report on mineral 

 products, have been obtained from all the mineral producers in 

 the State. 



During the year a large number of letters were received, 

 requesting information in regard to the geologic structure of 

 portions of the State, or making inquiries about the value of 

 specimens of various mineral products. Many inquiries were 

 also received from manufacturers located outside the State, 

 requesting aid in obtaining supplies of certain mineral products, 

 or in locating new industries based on our mineral resources. 



These letters as in former years were answered promptly and 

 as fully as possible. 



