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depression of its lands. At one period in its history it 

 was the scene of vast volcanic activity, when molten rocks 

 poured to the surface. Built by the sea, it has been fash- 

 ioned by the storm, and the waves of ocean have carved 

 its shores with a fret-work of beautiful forms. Its low 

 shores, its coastal plains, its broad valleys, and its billowy 

 hills have been carved by rains and rivers until it presents 

 a landscape of beauty. These physical features of the 

 State, which express its beauty and record its history and 

 reveal its structure, became one of the great studies of 

 Doctor Cook when he began the topographic survey of 

 the State. He lived to see that survey completed ; and 

 he gave to the industries of the land and to the science 

 of the world the first great topographic map of a State 

 constructed on this continent. Had this been his sole 

 contribution to the knowledge of the world, it would have 

 made him worthy of high honor. 



With the increase of population in this country, the 

 ordinary wells which gather the water from the surface 

 steadily become dangerous to health and life. With the 

 multiplication of manufacturing establishments and 

 through other agencies, ever on the increase, the streams 

 become polluted and their waters freighted with disease. 

 The supply of pure water for domestic purposes to the 

 people of the State of New Jersey early attracted the 

 attention of Doctor Cook. With profound insight into 

 the physical structure of the State, he early became con- 

 "vinced that the hills of the highlands constituted a 

 catchment area for the waters of deep-seated rocks in the 

 lowlands, and that through these pervious formations, 

 outcropping above, the waters were filtered and purified 

 and could be reached by artesian boring along the coast. 

 His prophecy was fulfilled, and now the beautiful towns 

 of the region are made salubrious through the genius of 

 his scientific induction. Todav thousands of wells ex- 



