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Although the municipal divisions of the State are correctly exhibited in Burr's atlas, it has been suggested that its topography is not always delineated with the same accuracy; that mountains are sometimes not shown at all, and at others, their true direction and extent are mistaken. In executing the proposed geological survey, these defects should be corrected. If every square mile in the State is examined, as it should be, and the observers are accompanied with a draughtsman, there will be no difficulty in ascertaining the elevation and direction of the various mountain ranges and the passes through them, and exhibiting their outlines on the map. For this purpose a second map must be made by the draughtsman, as geological formations cannot always be represented in connexion with elevations and depressions of surface on the same sheet. The second map will be of a topographical, rather than a geological, character; but as it will add little or nothing to the expense of the survey, it is deemed highly important to cause one of each county to be made. The originals can be deposited in the office of the Surveyor-General, and the Legislature can direct them to be published as a part of the survey, or retained for publication at another time.

EXPENSES.

It is not to be expected that the survey, under the most favorable circumstances, can be executed in less than three years, and it will more probably require four. To execute it properly, men of science and practical knowledge must be chosen. Their services cannot be secured without a compensation in some degree proportioned to the labor to be performed. It is true the work is of great importance, and individuals may be willing to embark in it from other considerations than that of pecuniary profit. But the State ought not to avail itself of such considerations to secure their services for less than a fair remuneration. The estimate, therefore, proceeds upon the supposition that the compensation is to be adequate to the labor. It is proper to add, that the individuals must bear their own expenses, and that no charge against the State should be allowed, excepting that of transporting specimens from distant counties to the general receptacle prepared for them. Their labors in the field will be confined to the milder portions of the year, and they may confidently anticipate from the inhabitants of every section of the State, such aids as will alleviate the burden of investigation and lessen their personal expenditures. Under all the circumstances, the following is deemed a fair estimate of the ex

penses, which must be incurred in carrying into execution the proposed plan.

Geology.

Two geologists to each district, at a salary of $1,500
per annum each-4 districts-8 individuals,...
One draughtsman to each district, at a salary of $800
per annum-4 districts-4 individuals, .

Zoology.

One zoologist for the whole State, at $1,500 per an...

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$12,000

$3,200

1,500

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One botanist for the whole State, at $1,500 per an...

One draughtsman do

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Packing and transporting specimens,.

Total annual expense of survey,

1,500

800

100

$19,900

An appropriation of $20,000 per annum for four years, will certainly cover the whole expense of making the survey.

The cost of publishing three thousand copies of the report, drawings and map of the results, will be as follows:

It is supposed that the entire account of the survey may be contained in three vols. 8vo. of 700 pages each, 3,000 copies, 9,000 volumes, in boards, at 81 cents each,

The maps may be lithographed, and with the necessary drawings of fossil remains, will not exceed $4.33} per atlas-3,000 copies,....

$7,290

13,000

Colouring the maps will be an additional charge of,

say,....

3,000

1,000

Cost of fitting up cabinet for specimens,....

$24,290

The amount may, and doubtless will, at first glance seem large: but it cannot, it is believed, be materially reduced without putting at hazard the objects of the survey. It is estimated that the survey of the State of Maryland will cost $20,000 exclusive of the expense of printing the final report, procuring maps, &c. That State has less than one-fourth of the superficial extent of NewYork, and the facilities for ascertaining its geological structure

are certainly not inferior to those which are afforded by this State. The relative expense is, therefore, about the same, with the exception that with our geological investigations, researches in botany and zoology are proposed to be combined.

If the investigations were confined to geology, and two thousand copies of the report and maps printed, the annual expense of the survey would be reduced to $15,300, and the cost of the publication to $17,500.

The geological examinations will have no connexion, according to the plan submitted to the Legislature, with those in zoology and botany. With respect to the first, a division of the State is contemplated; whereas, with respect to each of the two latter, a single individual would make the necessary researches for the whole State. Should it be determined to dispense with these two subjects of examination, so far as the appointment of individuals for the special purpose is concerned, the gentlemen making the geological survey could be instructed to extend their researches, as far as practicable, to zoology and botany, and in this manner much valuable information might undoubtedly be obtained, and the labor of future investigations would be essentially diminished.

If the survey be made as contemplated by the resolution of the Assembly, the entire cost, including the expense of publication, will be about $104,000.

If the survey be made as contemplated by the resolution, and but 2,000 copies of the report, maps, &c. be printed, the entire cost will be about $98,000.

If the examinations are confined to geology alone, and but 2,000 copies of the report, maps, &c. be printed, the entire cost will be about $79,000.

The estimates of the expense of printing the report, engraving the maps, &c. were procured from practical men, and may be considered as accurate as they can be made by the most careful calculation.

As it is proposed to preserve specimens of animals, as well as minerals, a room of some magnitude will be necessary for a cabinet. Such a room may be found in the third story of the Capitol, by taking away a partition and throwing two of the apartments,

set apart for committee rooms, into one. These rooms are rarely if ever, used, and there will still be, after thus appropriating two of them, enough remaining for the purpose for which they were originally designed.

It may be proper to state in this place, that a petition was presented to the Legislature in the year 1834, by the Albany Institute, soliciting pecuniary aid for the purpose of making a similar collection. By reference to the petition, Senate Document No. 15, of that year, it will be perceived that a desire was expressed by that body "to form a grand and comprehensive collection of the natural productions of the State of New York, to exhibit at one view and under one roof, its animal, vegetable and mineral wealth." Should it be deemed desirable, there would be no difficulty, it is presumed, in making an arrangement with the Institute for the custody of the specimens, subject to the pleasure of the Legislature with respect to a different disposition of them at any future time, and subject also to the supervision of any public officer, who might be designated for the purpose. This arrangement would be attended with some inconvenience to the Institute, but it would doubtless be acceded to, if it were desired by the Legislature. The Maryland cabinet of minerals is temporarily deposited with St. John's college at Annapolis, the seat of government.

Under all the circumstances it is submitted, whether the arrangement first suggested, would not be the most proper. The rooms could be fitted up with little expense, except that of furnishing cases for the security of the specimens. It is supposed, of course, that the Legislature would be desirous of preserving them where they would be at all times accessible to its members and to strangers visiting the seat of government. With respect to the first of these objects, the preservation of the specimens in the Capitol would be more convenient than in the Institute, and equally so with respect to the other object referred to.

With regard to the arrangement of the specimens, the plan propo sed for the State cabinet of Maryland, so far as respects a geographical distribution,* is deemed highly important. On this plan the mineral productions of each county are exhibited separately, so that representatives can see at a glance those, in which their imme

[Assem. No. 9.]

Report on the new Map of Maryland, p. 50,

7

diate constituents are directly interested. In addition to this arrangement, there is a duplicate series of specimens arranged in their natural order, with a reference also to their fitness for useful purposes.

The first of these arrangements it would be advisable to adopt. But with respect to the second, it would, perhaps, be preferable to make it altogether geological; that is, to exhibit the entire suite of specimens in the order in which the rocks are supposed to have been formed, commencing with the lowest or those of earliest formation, and arranging the metallic specimens and organic remains in connexion with the beds and strata, in which they have respectively been found, thus disregarding in the arrangement of the second series of specimens the economical uses, to which the several substances may be applied. This is a suggestion, however, which may more properly be left to the determination of those, to whom the duty of arranging the specimens may be entrusted.

In entering upon the execution of the proposed plan, the individuals selected for the purpose, should meet at a central point and agree, so far as practicable, upon a uniform mode of conducting their examinations. By a comparison of views at the outset, misunderstandings may be obviated and valuable suggestions elicited; and if the survey is not, by means of these preliminary deliberations, accelerated in its progress, they can not fail to be serviceable in preparing a uniform exihibition of its final results.

Whenever in the examination of a district a sufficient number of specimens shall have been collected, they should be packed with tow or hay, in a strong box or barrel, and sent to the place appointed for their reception. Each specimen should be numbered, and have labelled on it the particular locality in which it was found, and it should be enveloped in thick paper for packing. No specimen should be named; but the observers should, of course, preserve in a journal of their proceeedings, á description of the locality, with a memorandum of the different strata, and their order of superposition, assigning each specimen, by a reference to its number, to its proper place.

The number of specimens of each kind, must be determined by the Legislature. It would be desirable to deposit an entire suite in each of our colleges. In this case, it would be necessary to preserve eight specimens of each rock, mineral, &c., and as the

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