10 INTEODUCTION. 



in view, namely: to obtain a knowledge of the geological 

 structure of the western half of the State and to gather all 

 possible information concerning the mineral and other mate- 

 rial resources of the whole State, especially the character 

 and extent of its coal-field; also to make full observations 

 concerning the character of its soils and the physical features 

 of the State. Accordingly the years 1866 and 1867 were 

 spent mainly in the examination of the southern and middle 

 portions of western Iowa, the central portion of northern 

 Iowa, and a number of counties within the coal-field. 



At the close of the year 1867, a preliminary report of these 

 labors was presented to the General Assembly which, together 

 with the popular letters written during the two preceding 

 years for the newspapers as required by law, were ordered 

 published in pamphlet form, and the continuation of the 

 work was provided for by the following act : 



CHAPTER 178. 



AN ACT Providing for the Further Prosecution and Completion of the Geo- 

 logical Survey of the State. 



Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That for 

 the purpose of the completion of the geological Survey of the State, the present 

 State Geologist be continued in office, and the sum of six thousand and five 

 hundred dollars he hereby annually appropriated out of such moneys in the State 

 Treasury, as are not otherwise appropriated, until the said Survey is completed 

 or until the General Assembly shall order its discontinuance. This appropriation 

 shall be drawn from time to time for the purposes of the survey and the pay- 

 ment of the salaries of its officers as defined and limited in Chapter 73 of the 

 Acts of the Eleventh General Assembly, upon requisitions signed by the State 

 Geologist, and vouchers approved by the Census Board and filed with the Auditor 

 of State. 



Sec. 2. The State Geologist is hereby required to complete the geological 

 survey of the State on or before the first day of January, 1870, and to prepare a 

 full and complete report of said survey, accompanied by such maps and drawings 

 as may be necessary to illustrate the same and transmit them to the Governor, 

 who shall lay a copy of such report before the next General Assembly. 



Sec 3. On or before the first Monday in each year the State Geologist shall 

 prepare careful statements of his accounts with the survey for the previous year, 

 embodying them in the form of a financial report, and send the same to the 



