IV LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR. 



Europe, without an expenditure of means far beyond any sum hitherto 

 appropriated for scientific purposes in this State ; and, consequently, 

 very much yet remains to he learned in regard to the distribution of our 

 coals and other economical deposits. 



The large collection of geological specimens accumulated by the Sur- 

 vey remains in the condition it -was left by the fire in the Masonic Hall 

 building, where it was formerly kept, no proper place having as yet 

 been provided for its reception, and no provision made for its preserva- 

 tion as a State collection. Some disposition should be made of this col- 

 lection, either to preserve it as the nucleus of a State Cabinet of Natural 

 History, or to dispose of it to some scientific institution where it would 

 be appreciated and properly cared for. 



In the prosecution of the work I have kept in view two objects that 

 seemed to me of paramount importance, to-wit : First, the development 

 of the material resources of the State, so far as was possible, by mak- 

 ing known whatever matters of economical importance the field explo- 

 rations should bring to light; and secondly, to bring out such scientific 

 results as this rich and comparatively unexplored field made possible, 

 so that the State of Illinois, through its geological survey, might con- 

 tribute something towards the general stock of scientific knowledge. 



Although the scientific results brought out by the survey may not be, 

 and probably are not appreciated by our own people, nevertheless I 

 have the satisfaction of knowing that they are elsewhere, and that the 

 Illinois Eeports are esteemed a desirable acquisition to all scientific 

 libraries, both public and private, and the applications for this work 

 since the distribution of the first three volumes, coming mainly from 

 individuals and institutions directly interested in scientific pursuits, 

 would have consumed the entire edition published. 



As the alleged reasons for withholding further appropriations to con- 

 tinue the work were based on the necessity of economy, and lest it might 

 therefore be supposed, by those unacquainted with the facts, that there 

 has been an unnecessary expenditure of money in the prosecution of 

 this work, I deem it but just to myself to state in this connection pre- 

 cisely the amount that has been placed at my disposal for carrying on 



the Geological Survey of the State since it has been under my direc- 

 tion. 



