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The law creating this Survey designated it a "Geological and Mineralogical Survey," and its plain intent is that investigations and reports on the mineral and other natural resources of the State shall be its chief object.

Being in hearty accord with the tenor of the law, and believing the function of a State survey to be primarily that of economic geology, immediately upon my appointment as State Geologist I began the organization of the Survey upon this basis.

By economic geology I mean that side of geologic investigation which pertains to the search for, and description of, all materials occurring or being a part of the earth's structure, which can be made of use or profit to man. I do not by any means wish to imply that there is or can be, any antagonism between what is here termed economic geology and what is sometimes denominated scientific geology, for it is all one study, and there is not, nor can there be, any economic geology which has not its foundation upon a clear understanding of the science. I do mean, however, that the economic is that part of the science in which the people are most decidedly interested, and that the function of a State survey is to bring to light all possible facts regarding this branch of geology. This should include not only a statement of the how and where of the occurrence of useful materials, but also, when necessary and possible, a brief description of the manner in which they can be brought into use, simply and to the best advantage. Thus there are many of the rare minerals in the Central Mineral District, hitherto regarded as almost valueless, except as specimens for the cabinet of the mineralogist or in some museum, which, if found in sufficient quantity, are of value for certain purposes. It is the place of a State survey to discuss this, in order that the people may be apprised of their value. It is not enough to say that there is a limestone, and a clay near it, which might make good cement. Analyses should be made and the requisite quantities for the mixture shown; a statement made of the available fuel supply, and any other points bearing immediately upon the manufacture of the cement. So, too, the pottery clays must be studied, analyzed, described, and the particular kind of ware to which they are best adapted made known. In the deposits of ores and coal there are found many problems of a scientific nature, growing out of their geologic surroundings and bearing directly upon