STATE GEOLOGIST.
Mr. Gardner's bill [H. R. 310--See page 144 of these Reports], to establish a Department of Geology and Natural History in this State, was read the third time.
Mr. GARDNER--The passage of this bill is essential to the development of the mining and manufacturing interests of this State. Many of the Counties of this State have valuable minerals and quarries of stone that are not known to the world, and a man of the acknowledged ability of Professor Collett is needed for the purpose of discovering the treasure of the State he loves so well. In the past years, he has brought out two volumes of geology and statistics, which have been of immense value in advertising to the world what we have to invite capital. Millions of dollars have thereby been attracted to the State. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been paid for our stone that would have gone elsewhere but for his labors But, to do this, he has given his time, his salary, and over $1,000 of his own money. This is, too much to ask of any man. If we would retain him it is essential that this bill should pass. I do not hestate to say that the State could better dispense with the services of any twenty-five Members of this House than it could spare Professor Collett. The works that he issues and the collections that he makes in geology, archeology and natural history will prove instructive monuments of his industry and talents that will be a source of instruction and a cause for pride to every citizen of the State. The mining, manufacturing and commercial interests all demand that we shall sustain a Bureau of Geology. I hope this House in its wisdom will pass the bill. It appropriates $1,800 as the salary of the State Geologist, who, under its operations, will attend to the demands of the different Counties. Should the bill fail to become a law the State would lose the services of Professor Collett, which result would prove disastrous to the interests of the State.
The bill passed by yeas, 56; nays, 22.
