LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR. V 



When the survey came under my control, in March, 1858, the annual 

 appropration was $5000 per annum, with an additional sum of $500 per 

 annum for topographical work. As the latter amount was entirely 

 inadequate to the accomplishment of any practical results in topo- 

 graphy, it was expended mainly in the construction of the State map 

 accompanying this volume, and in drawing such county maps as the 

 prosecution of the work rendered necessary, so that the first named 

 sum was all the available means at command to pay the salaries of 

 myself and my assistants in geology and palaeontology, for chemical 

 work and chemicals, and the traveling and incidental expenses of the 

 survey. This appropriation continued until the adoption of the new 

 constitution in 1872, when by a provision in that instrument it was 

 abolished. In addition to this annual appropriation, the twenty-fifth 

 General Assembly made a special appropriation of $10,000 per annum 

 for two years to complete the field work, and five or six additional 

 assistants were employed for that time, aud the sum so appropriated 

 was exclusively devoted to this department of the survey. 



After the expiration of the regular annual appropriation in 1872,' by 

 the constitutional provision above referred to, the twenty-seventh Gen- 

 eral Assembly appropriated the sum of $2000 to defray the entire 

 expense of the Survey for one year, and the succeeding General Assem- 

 bly appropriated the sum of $3600 per annum for two years to defray 

 the salary of myself and assistant including office and traveling 

 expenses, and $1500 to pay the cost of the drawings required to illus. 

 trate this volume. This appropiiation expired on the 30th day of June, 

 last. The two first volumes of my report were published in 1860, the 

 third in 1868, the fourth in 1870, the fifth in 1872, and the sixth in 1875, 

 this latter volume having been delayed nearly a year by causes already 

 alluded to. These six volumes, averaging about 550 pages each and con- 

 taining 175 full page plates besides numerous wood cuts, were brought 

 out in about nine years on the appropriations above specified. From 

 these facts and figures those best qualified to judge can determine, for 

 themselves, whether or not the Geological Survey of Illinois has been 

 conducted with due regard to economy. 



In taking leave of a work which I have had so long in charge, and to 

 -which I have devoted the best years of my life, I can but express my 



