The Mississippi Survey. — Hilgard. 305 
to contribute $250 toward the payment of its cost, which under 
the conditions then existing was a heavy tax. The edition was 
received at Jackson early in 1866, and thence distributed ac- 
cording to law. 
The mule team of the survey had been sold by authority 
from the governor, soon after the passage of the act of sus- 
pension. There being no legal mode of turning the proceeds 
into the state treasury, the}- remained in my custody in the form 
of ''Cotton Money" (notes issued by the state upon "cotton 
pledged" for their redemption) during the war; and as at its 
end these notes had become worthless, the survey was left with- 
out means for repurchase. Subsequently, however, a suitable 
team was procured out of the appropriations for current ex- 
penditures. 
Dr. George Little, formerly professor of natural sciences at 
Oakland College, near Rodney, ^liss., was appointed assistant 
geologist in July, 1866, and shortly thereafter took the field 
for detailed exploration of the loess region from Rodney to its 
fartherest point in Louisiana: the special object being to ascer- 
tain its relation to the "Coast Pliocene" or Port Hudson beds 
on the one hand, and to the southern equivalent of the "Yellow 
Loam" of Mississippi and Tennessee on the other. The gener- 
al results of this exploration are briefly stated in Memoir No. 
248 of. the Smithsonian Contributions, p. 4, viz : That the loess 
material gradually changes toward that of a non-calcareous 
and non-fossiliferous hardpan or indurated loam, from a point 
about eight miles below the Louisiana line, and seems also to 
thin out. Xo detailed report of field notes of this trip are on 
record. 
In view of the difficulties and insecurity besetting the office 
of state geologist under the regime then existing in the state 
of ]\Iississippi, in October, 1866, I accepted permanently tiie 
chair of chemistry at the L'niversity ; and Dr. Little was then, 
upon my recommendation, appointed state geologist. He took 
the field in autumn of 1867, in order to re-explore the section 
of the tertiary strata afforded by the Chickasawhay river, be- 
tween Enterprise and Winchester. He descended the stream 
in a canoe, making numerous portages over shallow stretches. 
The result of this re-examination was simply a confirmation 
of the observations previously made by myself, going by land, 
