1896.] Principles of Geology and its Aim. 277 



It is necessary to have a knowledge of other sciences if one 

 would make practical use of geology, that is, to understand 

 the many phenomena that are presented to him. 



Natural philosophy and chemistry are necessary in order to 

 determine the composition of rocks and to understand how 

 they were formed and changed. Botany is necessary to un- 

 derstand paleobotany, zoology is necessary to understand 

 paleozoology, astronomy figures very prominently in the de- 

 termination of the relations of this planet to other heavenly 

 bodies. Anything that the telescope and the spectroscope re- 

 veal is of geological importance, and bears upon the past and 

 future condition of the earth. Mathematics is constantly in 

 use, and without that seiriu:e little or nothing could be accom- 

 plished. 



The foundation work of a geologist, therefore, should be a 

 knowledge of the natural sciences, for without them he will be 

 materially hampered in his work. 



Geology is practical as well as literary in nature. Every 

 agriculturalist would become more scientific, and would reap 

 better " crops " if he had a knowledge of the science, for it 

 gives a knowledge of soils and fertilizers. To the engineer it 

 is of great importance, for thereby he understands drainage 

 and the best methods for excavating. It is of great impor- 

 tance to the manufacturer, for he can better understand clays, 

 ores, fuels, etc., and in mining it is of great value for it enables 

 the miner to understand the nature of the rock in which the 

 metals occur and assists him in " prospecting." 



This use of the science is termed " Economic Geology " and 

 is of inestimable value and importance in developing system- 

 atically the resources of a state or of a nation. 



The United States government has realized the importance 

 of thorough and accurate investigation of this vast country of 

 ours from an economic standpoint, and established the U. S. 

 Geo. Survey in 1879 for this purpose. Most of the states have 

 their surveys and work for the same ends, but on a smaller 

 scale, and assist, and are assisted by, the government survey, 

 and so work in harmony with each other. 



