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IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 
bearing on various questions that arise in the public mind. A good illustration 
may be found in Volume XI. on pp. 17-21 and in Volume VII., pp. 23-27, wherein 
Calvin plainly and positively sets forth what geology teaches relative to the 
possible findings of gold, petroleum, gas, etc., in paying quantities in Iowa, 
discussions which ought to be periodically published in the newspapers of Iowa 
until they are fully appreciated by the public, and here I cannot refrain from 
quoting his final paragraph on the subject in Volume XII., since it discloses 
so clearly the real character and spirit of the man. “Letters received at this 
ofiice, asking for information and advice relative to boring for oil or gas, have 
been more numerous the past year than ever before. In every case the writers 
have been informed as to the exact facts and left to exercise their own judgment 
concerning the propriety of proceeding with the contemplated enterprise. In 
the matter of developing our natural resources the people of Iowa are entitled 
to the best information that geological science can give; and the present knowl- 
edge of the geological structure of the state makes it possible over the greater 
part of our area, to predict the outcome of drilling for water or for other 
products, with a high degree of accuracy. It is difficult, however, to get men — 
even the most intelligent of men — to appreciate the significance of some of the 
simplest of geological facts, when it happens that the men are not themselves 
geologists, nevertheless the world is moving toward a brighter, higher and 
grander intelligence; and those whose mission it is to teach can afford to ex- 
ercise patience, to labor and wait.” 
At the risk of being commonplace and tedious I have given considerable detail 
to the published volumes of the Survey, because* in a very large degree the 
geological history of Iowa in the past twenty years, at least, is to be found in 
these twenty volumes, volumes which will ever stand as a worthy monument 
to the energy, scholarship and eminent ability of the great souled man who 
planned the work and himself did no small part of it and who chose and directed 
as his assistants men who, in the midst of other heavy tasks, gladly gave them- 
selves to the furtherance of the plans of their great leader, who for forty 
years was so identified with Iowa Geology that the one can scarcely be thought 
of apart from the other. ' 
Earlier in this paper I have spoken of the work done by many who pursued 
their investigations from personal interest in the subject at a time when there 
was no help afforded them by the state, or the general government. Similar 
work has been kept up during the last twenty years, even though their services 
in many instances were required in furthering the work of the survey. Thus 
there is a very considerable store of valuable papers scattered through the 
various periodicals, bulletins and reports that publish such papers, the mere 
mention of the titles of which would occupy more time than I would be justified 
in using here. These papers constitute a most valuable supplement to the work 
of the Survey and I wish to append to this paper as properly belonging to my 
theme an index of such bibliography. I have alluded to some county field 
work not yet published. It is proper to say that no inconsiderable amount of 
work has been done on several special subjects which will be completed and 
published in the near future. Norton has been collecting data respecting all 
deep wells that have been put down since the sixth volume of the Survey was 
published that some time will be given the public in a form that will benefit 
the general public interested in securing copious supplies of wholesome water. 
