AMERICAN EXPLORATION TRIBUTE. 95 



TRIBUTE OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY TO AMERICAN 

 GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION.* 



THE following tribute to the Americans who have conducted 

 meritorious geological and geographical explorations is a 

 graceful and well-bestowed recognition from the French people 

 of the remarkable results that have been achieved in this coun- 

 try by individual and Government agencies in adding to the sum 

 of human knowledge. The tribute of words is even more beauti- 

 ful than the elegant medal which accompanied it, and while the 

 United States Geological Survey is made the official recipient of 

 the gift, it will be seen that it is intended to honor other American 

 workers in this field of science. 



Institute of France, Academy of Science. Meeting of Decem- 

 ber 21, 1891. Pages 70 to 74. 



CUVIER PRIZES. 



Commissionees : MM. Gatjdby, FotrQUE, de Qttatrefages, Milne-Edwards. 



M. Daubeee, Eappoeteue. 



The commission charged with awarding the Cuvier prize for 

 the year 1891 has with unanimous voice given this high mark of 

 esteem to the collective work of the Geological Survey of the 

 United States. 



In the United States, where all the natural resources are ex- 

 ploited with so much ardor, the studies relative to the soil ought 

 necessarily to demand a very particular attention by reason of 

 the numerous applications which they legitimately promise. It 

 is therefore more than half a century since the governments of 

 many States instituted a geological exploration of the lands which 

 belonged to them. These geological surveys were organized and 

 confided to men most prominent in their profession. It was in 

 the Northern States that the most considerable progress was 

 made. Hitchcock published, in 1833, the Geology of Massachu- 

 setts. From 1836 to 1840 the eminent Henry Rogers and his 

 brother, W. B. Rogers, undertook that of Pennsylvania and Vir- 

 ginia, the essential characteristics and distorted structure of 

 which they so admirably made known. Charles T. Jackson, of 

 Boston, the discoverer of etherization, and already known by his 

 mineralogical works, undertook that of Maine, New Hampshire, 

 and Rhode Island (1837 to 1839), after having published in 1833 a 

 study of Nova Scotia. The geology of the State of New York is 

 confided to James Hall — who has not yet discontinued the series 



* Translated by Robert T. Hill, of the United States Geological Survey. 



