6 
[Assembly 
mains of the various formations within the State, with a stratagraphi- 
cal arrangement of them as exhibited in each particular series of strata 
in their chronological order. Organic remains constitute, perhaps, the 
most interesting portion of natural history. They may be considered 
as indisputable records of the process of the formation and structure of 
the crust of the globe, which the learned geologist can decipher with 
unerring certainty. Reading from them the relative ages of rock forma- 
tions, and the particular character of the rock, on which he may be, he 
has a directory to guide him in his search for minerals. Other depart- 
ments of geology will designate what particular minerals may be found 
in any particular rock. The palaeontologist will figure and describe 
the organic remains peculiar to the same rock. The individual has 
only to collect a few organic remains, and compare them with the figures 
furnished him, and he immediately learns whether the rock may contain 
any valuable minerals, and how he stands in regard to other rocks, which 
may contain coal, salt or iron. Thus an index will be furnished, by which 
searches for the mineral wealth of the State will be greatly facilitated. 
From this brief sketch of the condition of the survey, it is very evi- 
dent to your committee, that an abrupt discontinuance of it at the ex- 
piration of the time contemplated in the original plan, would greatly 
injure its usefulness and dishonor the whole enterprise. It is believed 
it will require no further appropriation to complete it, and they have 
therefore come to the conclusion that it will be carrying out the views 
of the Legislature, which authorized the survey, and meet the appro- 
bation of the people, to authorize its continuance until the first Tues- 
day in January one thousand eight hundred and forty-two. 
The report of the Geologists, which has been referred to your com- 
mittee, states, that in their opinion, it is of great importance that the 
various levels which have been taken by engineers in the service of the 
State and of private companies, should be collected and preserved. 
There are many points of view in which a knowledge of the eleva- 
tions of different portions of the State may be considered of importance. 
By these alone, a general system of the topography of the State can 
be laid down, and the important features presented on a map. To ge- 
ologists, it is peculiarly important in enabhng them to designate the 
points of elevation attained by different rocks and groups relatively and 
precisely, and exhibit them on a map. Hence they would be enabled 
to designate by numbers the elevation of a certain rock at different 
points along its course, thus furnishing a guide for inferring the rela- 
