146 The American Geologist. March, 1891 
hearty reception b} r the general public, as well as by geologists in 
particular, that its author was encouraged to undertake the pre- 
paration of a volume for the latter's especial benefit, and the ap- 
pearance of "An American Geological Railway Guide," fresh 
from his pen, in 1879, was hailed by geologists everywhere, as a 
boon of greatest value. This book, so unique in conception, and 
happy in execution, put all geologists under a heavy debt of grat- 
itude to the author whose busy brain and hand had done so much 
for them. The amount of labor involved in the preparation of 
this little volume, can only be properly appreciated by those who 
have undertaken similar work. 
The edition was soon exhausted, and in 1883 Mr. Macfarlane, 
in response to an appreciative public, began the preparation of a 
new and greatly enlarged volume of the "Guide," adding many 
novel and useful features. While in the midst of this labor the 
"dread summons" came suddenly, almost without warning, and 
the bus}' life was ended. 
The two celebrated works just mentioned entitled Mr. Macfar- 
lane to a high place among the contributors to the advancement of 
the science of geologj- ; but they do not constitute the whole of 
his work for geology. His articles on " Coal," in Appleton's En- 
cyclopaedia and Gray's Atlas of Pennsylvania, "On the Formation 
of Canons," in Science, August, 1884, and on "The Earthquake 
at New Madrid," at the Minneapolis meeting of the "A. A. A. 
S. ," all attest the true scientific spirit as well as the geological ac 
umen of the author. 
Some of his best work for geologic science was of the kind 
that is of great importance, but often overlooked. He was really 
the father of the bill which inaugurated the second geological 
surve}' of Penns} T lvania, and largely through his labors and influ- 
ence, were obtained the legislation and necessary appropriations 
which carried that vast work forward to such splendid results. A 
member of the Board of Commissioners of the survey from the 
beginning, he labored unceasingly in its interest, and probably did 
more than all others combined, to overcome popular prejudice 
against appropriations for such purposes. At the meetings of the 
Board he was the first to come, and the last to leave, and his 
practical knowledge of men, and good business qualities, combined- 
