12 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
other quarry products, clays, useful minerals, soils, sands and gravels which 
may he used in the improvement of roads or for other purposes, water sup- 
plies, possible water powers, and whatever else it may be of service for the 
people to know with respect to their natural resources. 
As a contribution to knowledge of great importance to the people of Iowa 
there was published, early in the history of the present Survey, a preliminary 
report on coal by Keyes. In this volume was assembled all the information 
relating to Iowa coals available at the date of publication. Special reports on 
the coal counties have since given greater precision to our knowledge of the 
subject; and the Survey has ready for the press a monograph on Iowa Coal 
which will place before the people all the facts which have been accumulating 
during the past ten or twelve years. The work on the coal monograph was 
begun by Professor Wilder while he occupied the position of State Geologist; 
his interest and efforts have been continued since large business affairs called 
him from the state; under his direction the field work and preparation of the 
manuscript for the volume has been carried forward by Henry Hinds and 
Assistant State Geologist Lees. The investigation of the peat deposits of the 
state and their possible use as a source of fuel supply has been completed under 
the direction of Dr. S. W. Beyer, and the manuscript is ready for the printer. 
To Dr. Beyer the Survey and the people of Iowa are indebted ior exhaustive 
and masterly reports on Clays and Clay Products, and on Quarry Products. 
These subjects are treated in volumes XIV and XvII of the Iowa Geological 
Reports. The work set out in these volumes has won recognition and high 
commendation from experts everywhere. As noted above, the report on peat, by 
Dr. Beyer, is ready for publication; and in the course of another year or two 
the same investigator ^^ill set before the people detailed information relative 
to roads and road material. 
The investigation of the resources of Iowa in the matter of underground 
waters suitable for municipal, domestic and medicinal uses has been in the 
hands of Professor Wm. H. Norton ever since the Survey was established. A 
preliminary report of great economic and scientific value was issued as part 
of volume VI, in the year 1897. The collection and classification of data have 
been continued without interruption since that report on water resources was 
published. The amount of material in hand is large and it is of the greatest 
importance. The Survey contemplates the early publication of a volume which 
will place before the people of the state full and trustworthy information on a 
subject of the utmost importance to their welfare. 
The gypsum deposits of Iowa have Fort Dodge as their center. Though 
limited to a small area, which probably does not exceed fifty square miles, these 
deposits have become the basis of a manufacturing industry of large propor- 
tions. The geology of the region was studied by Keyes, and later, in more 
minute detail, by Wilder. In his report on the geology of Webster county 
Wilder presents the results of very exhaustive investigation on the areal ex- 
tent, the thickness and the availability of the deposits as well as on the 
methods of mining, quarrying and manufacturing. He suggests additional uses 
for gypsum products and points out possible improvements in the methods of 
manufacture. The results of personal studies relating to the manufacture and 
uses of gypsum in France and Germany are incorporated in an Appendix to the 
Webster county report, and so there is placed before the manufacturers of 
