4 
[Assembly 
that many of the mines at present wrought by individuals must fall 
within the provisions of this act, and in reality belong to the people of 
the State. 
The Geologists, therefore, submit this matter to the consideration of 
the Governor, and respectfully request that he will make such commu- 
nications to the Legislature, as will ensure the repeal of the act in 
question, except in so far as it relates to the lands at present owned by 
the State. This measure it is believed would meet with the approbation 
of the people, remove an important obstacle to our mining operations, 
and well accord with the enlightened views which characterize the pre- 
sent age. 
2. Another subject which in the opinion of the Geologists is of con- 
siderable importance is, the collecting of copies of the various levels 
which have been taken by engineers employed by the State or by indi- 
viduals. The information thus obtained would be of great value in 
determining the thickness of the various rock strata, their dip, &c. A 
summary of these observations may be published in the final reports of 
the Survey and thus a vast amount of information in regard to the to- 
pography of the State will be rendered available, which otherwise will 
probably be entirely lost. We cannot doubt that a request from the 
Governor will be sufficient for the accomplishment of this important 
object. 
{Note. Mr. Ruggles, (the Canal Commissioner,) suggests that an 
office be established at Albany for the Canal Commissioners, where 
copies can be preserved of all maps, plans and drawings, of every de- 
scription, made and to be made for the service of the State. This 
would meet the above suggestion of the Geologists if it were to include 
also the surveys and levels made by private companies and individuals, 
of which there have been a great number in various parts of the State.) 
3. The Geologists would again respectfully urge the great importance 
of providing suitable rooms or a separate building for the collections 
made during the progress of the Survey. There have been obtained 
for the State of Mineralogical and Geological specimens alone, upwards 
of 400 boxes which contain several thousand specimens. These are 
now deposited in the most rude and unsafe manner possible, in rooms 
temporarily assigned to the Geologists^ But it should be particularly 
stated at this time, that as our engagements with the State terminate in 
