MINING. 



371 



the great utility of sueh establishments is amply 

 proved by experience in foreign countries, where, 

 for the most part, the capital thus invested is com- 

 paratively trifling. British miners and coal-workers 

 are compelled to pick up their information how they 

 can. If, by good fortune, yotfng men are placed 

 under those who value science, and are aware of 

 the advantages that may be derived from it, they 

 have certainly little reason to complain ; but, un- 

 fortunately, this is not the lot of the many. A col- 

 lege of mines, properly conducted, would be alike 

 beneficial to those who invest their money in mines 

 and collieries, and those who work them. It could, 

 indeed, be scarcely otherwise than a national ben- 

 efit."* 



It is ardently to be hoped that our government, 

 in carrying into operation the establishment of the 

 national institution at Washington for the " Diffu- 

 sion of Useful Knowledge," will take this subject 

 into serious consideration. 



Such an institution should contain a national mu- 

 seum, for the purpose of showing the application 

 of geology to the useful purposes of life. There 

 might be exhibited the mineral wealth of the coun- 

 try ; the most suitable materials for the construc- 

 tion of roads, public works, and buildings ; such as 

 are particularly adapted to ornamental purposes, 

 those from which useful metals are extracted ; such 

 as illustrate the application of geology to agricul- 

 ture ; the coal measures, arranged, each stratum in 

 its proper place, and all with reference to instruc- 

 tion ; and the situations whence they were obtain ■ 

 ed should b% marked on good maps, which, it is 



* The suggestion of Mr. De la Beche has been adopted, and 

 a Museum of Economic Geology formed in London, under the 

 department of Woods and Public Works. As the United States 

 already have a geologist employed, it would be well if they had 

 such a museum in which to deposite the specimens he may col- 

 lect. 



