194 The American Geologist. March, 1899 
the physical features of Maryland than was possible at the time the 
first report was issued is presented in this volume and the results of 
investigations carried on since the establishment of the Survey are 
treated in a way that cannot be otherwise than instructive to the citizen 
of Maryland. Forty-eight plates and thirty-four figures furnish full 
and exceedingly varied illustrations. 
The subjects treated are the Building and Decorative Stones and the 
Cartography of ]\Iaryland, and their discussion comprises parts II and 
III of the volume. An administrative report by the State Geologist 
forms Part I and contains an account of the operations of the survey 
(luring 1896 and 1897 and recent additional legislation. 
The .state survey has been fortunate in the co-operation of the 
Federal survey and, by this means, has been able to pus'.i the topo- 
graphical work rapidly. During 1896, 650 square miles were surveyed 
and a considerable area was added to this in 1897. 
The magnetic division of the survey, in charge of Dr. Bauer, has 
estal)lished 76 new stations, which, with the 28 stations formerly estab- 
lished by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, make an average of 
one station to every 118 square miles in the state. 
The more purely geological work of the survey during the first two 
years of its existence comprises a preliminary survey of the entire 
state, some detailed areal work on the coastal plain, the Piedmont 
plateau and in the Appalachian region, an economic investigation of 
the building stones of the state and the inauguration of hydrographic. 
agricultural and statistical investigation. In the hydrographic work 
the survey was again fortunate in the co-operation of the U. S. Geo- 
logical Survey and the investigation of the building stones was con- 
ducted with the assistance of Dr. Merrill of the U. S. National Mu- 
seum. 
The General Assembly of 1898 set its approval upon the survey 
by the continuation of appropriations and by the enacting of additional 
legislation, making provision for the extension of the topographic sur- 
vey and for the investigation of the question of highway construction. 
The report on the building and decorative stones of Maryland by ' 
Dr. Merrill and Dr. Mathews is admirably fitted to be of service to 
(juarry-operators and contractors alike. General geological conditions, 
the strength of stones, the geographic distribution of the building 
^tones of the states, methods of quarrying and working, with full dis- 
cussion and illustration of machinery employed, the relation of Mary- 
land to other producing areas, the durability and methods of testing 
building stones, are subjects treated by Merrill, who speaks author! 
tatively on physical' and economic properties of building stones. 
A more detailed description of the character and distribution of 
Maryland building stones, together with a history of the quarrying in- 
dustry is given by ?klathews. These descriptions are suited to the 
i|uarrier and to the intelligent citizen and are both clear and accurate. 
The illustrations of the polished surfaces of the more important build- 
