12H 



PROPOSED PLAN OP THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



The survey should aim at three principal results, each of which is 

 essential to a proper developement of the native mineral resources of 

 the state : 



First, the production of a report descriptive of the minute geology, 

 practical and scientific, of all parts of the state. 



Second, the construction of a geological map and a series of ac- 

 companying sections or profiles, both necessary to a proper exhibi- 

 tion of the geology of the region, and capable of conveying a fund of 

 useful information, which no mere report can. 



Third, the formation of a cabinet designed to exhibit the mineral 

 materials described in the report, and represented on the map and 

 sections. 



As a more description of the geology of a country, if unaccompa- 

 nied by a map and sections, can convey only a very imperfect idea 

 of the structure and relations of its formations, it becomes necessary 

 to have the geographical map as accurate as possible, inasmuch as 

 errors in this will vitiate more or less the geology. The proper 

 basis on which to lay down a geological survey, is a minute topo- 

 graphical map, the production, however, of which at the present time, 

 would be too tardy and too costly. The existing state map being 

 very inaccurate in various points, which, if retained in the geological 

 map, might lead to serious practical mistakes, one duty of this sur- 

 vey should be to rectify such portions of the topography as must be 

 corrected previous to laying down the geology. This implies a cer- 

 tain amount of topographical duty, which it is designed to perform 

 only when rendered necessary by the demands of the geological 

 survey. 



To the topographical branch of the survey might be attached two 

 or three extra duties, some of which would greatly promote the 

 strictly geological part of the survey, and in like manner augment 

 largely our stock of useful information upon the internal resources 

 of the state. One should be to procure numerous barometrical ob- 

 servations of the heights of our mountains, more especially the gorges 

 and passes over which roads may from time to time be carried. An- 

 other ought to embrace a set of observations on the drainage or wa- 

 ter power of the several hydrographic sections of the state. This 



