84 The American Geologist. February 1905 
resources of their respective states; the legislature of Tennessee 
was among the first that iiave distinguished themselves as the 
patrons of this science." 
"Before he proceeds to give a regular view of the geology of 
the counties of Davidson, Williamson and Maury, he gives a gen- 
eral outline of the geology of the greatest portion of the state. 
From this outline the committee learn that we may count several 
series or formations of rocks in the state of Tennessee. He con- 
siders that part which is beyond the eastern declivity of the Cum- 
berland mountain, as belonging to what geologists term the first 
ansition or qray wacke formation. The greater part of the Cum- 
berland mountain he considered as belonging to the coal forma- 
tions, of which he has given the extent in the report already made 
and read to the House. This coal formation rests on a series of 
strata of oolitic limestone. This oolyte series covers the limestone 
strata which prevail in the three counties mentioned. These lime- 
stone strata are covered with a series of agrillaceous and siliceous 
strata, in which our rich deposits of iron are found, and which 
again are covered towards the western part of Tennessee with the 
Thiatyary [sic] formations. 
"After having given this precursory view of the geology of the 
state, Dr. Troost gives a detailed description of the geology of the 
three counties before mentioned. He describes ■vV'ith much pre- 
cision, the different strata, their accidental minerals, among which 
he enumerates several varieties of plaster-sulphate of barytes, and 
strontian and their metallic deposits. The part of the description, 
now before the committee, contains only one description of such 
metallic deposit, viz.: that of a vein of lead, which promises to be 
advantageous to its proprietor. He is also very particular in de- 
scribing what he calls the Sandstone strata, which covers the lime- 
stone. But, as, according to the opinions of the most distinguished 
geologists, the relative age of the various strata can be determined 
only from the imbedded organic remains of the relics of successive 
generations of animals and plants, and as experience has taught 
that the metallic deposits differ according to the age of the strata, 
so for instance. Tin is only found in the oldest or lower strata and 
never was found in the newer, so the doctor has described, with 
much exactness, these remains. In an appendix to his labors, he 
has described about 50 species, of which there are many that were 
not described before, and most of them were not known to exist 
in our country. 
"The committee learn from the report of Dr. Troost that he 
has commenced an analysis of the various soils, and that it is his 
object to add to his work an agricultural and chemical description 
of the nature of the different soils. When this object shall have 
been attained, the committee believe that the description of these 
counties will be complete, and when the whole state shall have 
