' No. 32. 
IN SENATE. FEB, 6, 1851. 
REPORT 
Of James Hall, on the Geological survey. 
f 
Albany^ Feb. Isf, 1851. 
To THE Honorable, THE Senate 
) Of the State of JVew- York : 
In obedience to the instructions contained in the resolution of the 
28th January, I have the honor to submit the following 
Statement : 
In order to a full understanding of the subject of the first inquiry, 
1 must beg your indulgence, while I briefly recapitulate the history of 
this department in the New- York geological survey. 
The importance af the subject was recognized by General Dix in 
his report upon the plan of the survey; while the necessity of making 
it a separate department, induced the geologists employed in 1836j 
unanimously to recommend the appointment of one person as palae- 
ontologist, who should devote himself exclusively to that object. *Mr. 
Conrad received the appointment, and was regarded as acting in that ca- 
pacity for more than five years. It was well understood, and so regard- 
ed by every person engaged in the survey, that this department required 
much labor, that original investigations were to be made, and the 
science was not then in the same advanced state as other departments 
[Senate No. 32.] 1 [u.li.] 
