MINING. 
371 
the great utility of such 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, young 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 be 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 Pubhc Works. As the United States 
already have a geologist employed, it would be well if they had 
such a rauseiun in which to deposite the specimens he may col- 
lect. 
