THE SCIENTIST 
ever, provisional publications, and the 
results of analyses and tests now in 
progress, together with other matter 
not yet ready for presentation, are re- 
served for the final r^iport on these 
special subjects which we hope to pre- 
pare for this year. 
In the laboratory analyses of clays 
and mineral waters have been pros- 
ecuted and 136 determinations have 
been made. In addition, a number of 
substances sent in by various citizens 
of the state have been determined and 
reported upon. 
It gives me pleasure to be able to as- 
sure you herein of the unabated inter- 
est in the operation of the survey, as 
evidenced by the numerous applica- 
tions for attention which are rece ved 
at this office from many parts of the 
state. But, though it is gratifying to 
witness this exhibition of interest, it is 
deplorable that the means of the sur- 
vey have not been sufficient to ade- 
quately satisfy these applications. 
Some counties or sections of (jhe 
stale may feel themselves slighted; 
whereas did they know the circum- 
stances of the case, they would recog- 
nize that considering the short period 
of exist* nee of the survey, the limited 
means at its disposal, the magnitude 
of ihe area of the state and the great 
importance of many of the mineral de- 
[josits it is impossible that we should 
have met more than a fraction of the 
demands which have been made upon 
us. Work of one character or another 
}»as been done in nearly sixty counties 
of the state, and comparing both the 
quantity and the quality of our pro- 
duel with those of other surv^eys, I 
tiud that the result, is in every way 
cre.difable. I wish to take this oppor- 
tunity of presenting this explanation. 
and wish further, to add that there has 
been no intention to slight any county 
in the planniug of the work, nor is 
there any failure to appreciate the im- 
portance, geologically, of tho>ie areas 
which remain comparitive'y uutouchi'd 
We simply could not begin evHrywh«'r** 
at the same time, n tv couhl w« p«»>s.i- 
bly expnud over tlie whole aren ilur ng 
the past 3'ear, we had to begin sn i>»'- 
where. Mful we have done so \vi!h a 
consideration of the interests of all 
and with the ntention of reachiujj: all 
parts before any subject of work is 
completed, 
I further take pleasure in c illiri'j: 
your attention to the fact that the ex- 
istence of the survey and its work is 
becoming widely known, and that we 
have many applications from individ- 
uals and companies throughout the 
country for information and reports 
concerning the luineral deposits of the 
state. The data which we have at 
ready collef.ted enables us to answer 
some of these inquiries to the satisfac- 
tion of the applicant and to the advaii- 
tage of the land owners of the stat<^ 
As the work [irogres^es we shall be 
able to do this still more effci^tively , 
an<l the bureau will thus become an 
invaluable dep.artment of the state gov- 
ernment, where the investor, the home 
.seeker, or the manufacturer can obtain 
authoritati''e, official and scientific in- 
formation concerning the natural re- 
rources of the state, and where the 
sesident and property owner in the 
state can secure reliable advice as to 
the value of the mineral substances 
which ma}' exist on his land/' 
A Mastadox tooth u'eighing ^'oven 
pounds has been unearthed nt Mouson. la. 
