86 HEMERAL DIVISIONS OF CLASSIFICATION 
rank. If it is ever desirable to speak of these midgets separately 
they are best referred to by some physical property or attribute, 
some characteristic mineral, some distinctive or abundant fossil, a 
peculiar structure, an easily recognizable texture, or an especial 
lithologic feature. 
The ills of Bethany are not all ended by restoration of its sub- 
divisional rights according to the world-wide acceptance of the 
canons of nomenclature. Recent attempts to merge it with other 
already well established formations under a new title of “Kansas 
City Formation” go far towards creating demand for the services 
of alienist. A rigid taxonomic rank is given three different mean¬ 
ings. Classification becomes destructive instead of constructive. 
What advantages accrue nobody knows. In chartography, with 
the most suitable scale for the region, or one inch to one mile, the 
representation of the Kansas City formation, or either of its con¬ 
freres, the Lansing formation or the Douglass formation, imparts 
about as much geological expression to the land map as does the 
limning of a mud fence. Although brilliant with color the map 
resolves itself into a mere land-map and nothing else. Occupa¬ 
tion of public geological surveys is gone. They must entirely 
cease to function so soon as the general public finds out what is 
really going on. 
Nature seems to have put forth her supremest effort to dispose 
and alternate the Kansas rock layers so that their geologic mapping 
should resolve itself into ideal creation, and the formations should 
illuminate themselves to very best advantage. As chartographic 
works of art Kansas geological maps should be the most beautiful 
extant. They should present their features in clear-cut classic 
outlines such as a Phidias would vitalize a block of Pentalicon 
marble. 
Dispensing with the use of place names for the unimportant 
subdivisions of the terrane, or lithologic unit, which are so seldom 
or never used in chartography, should go a long way towards ad¬ 
vancing geological taxonomy and towards promoting rational 
geological mapping. When this shall have been accomplished 
there will be no longer raised against the movement for speeding 
up the geological mapping of our country the loud counter cry for 
abandonment of the work altogether which is now heard through¬ 
out the land. 
