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pg 004: First annual report of the Geological and Agricultural Survey of Texas Publication 36807936.

 
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report of things as he saw them. This report: I did not receive until mine was nearly done, and I did not read it until after mine was finished. I had intended to give a short account of each county, but such accounts would have much of sameness. The accounts of the geology, and of the soils of the different geological periods, give the main features of the country passed over by the survey this season, including also what I had seen previously when connected with the survey.

IMPORTANCE OF THE SURVEY.

To many it may seem unnecessary to say anything on the utility of a geological and agricultural survey, because such surveys have already been tested and found to be of great practical value by most civilized countries. Indeed it is impossible to develop the mineral and agricultural resources of a State in an economical manner without such a survey. Hence the capitalist and the emigrant consider a geological and agricultural report, made by the authority of a State, the most reliable as regards its mineral and agricultural wealth. The capitalist wants to know about the coal, iron, copper, and other mineral wealth of the State; also, its soil and agricultural capacity, that he may know best where to build railroads and start manufactories; and the emigrant also wants to know about these things, that lie may decide best where to locate with regard to his particular vocation. The Geological Department has many letters from representative men of those classes asking for information, and for geological and agricultural reports of the State. Only let Texas be known abroad as she really is, and there will be enough of immigration.

More than enough time and money has already been spent in Texas in searching and digging after minerals, where it is useless to look after them, than would be sufficient to defray the expenses of its geological survey. One of the most useful parts of a survey is the directing where to look and where not to look after minerals, and thus preventing useless expenditure. There are few counties in the State which have not had their mineral hunters--gold, silver and lead being the things most sought. In 1867 an expedition of about one hundred men started from Georgetown, in Williamson county, to take possession of large deposits of gold, which were said to be on the Pecos, near

 

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