Page:The Journal of geology (IA journalofgeology21894univers).pdf/112

for a rational account of its physical features, presented in the light of modern research? No such account exists. The Empire state is no better off; perhaps not so well. In both these states, as in all others, local physical geography is a most attractive field. It is through this field that the scholars should be led out to see the rest of the world; yet the teachers have not sufficient means of presenting the facts of the subject to their classes. To most persons the facts of our home geography are really unknown. A few investigators, mostly members of geological surveys, possess a more or less intimate personal knowledge of their states; but it is too often stored only in their minds, and there remains inaccessible to others, unless by personal interview. It is indeed rather curious that the state geological surveys have not before now undertaken systematic geographical descriptions of their areas; much more extended than the too brief chapters with which the serious geological descriptions are often prefaced. The geographical descriptions will never be well done until they are made the work of well trained specialists, whose first attention is directed to this subject. The stratigrapher, the petrographer, and the paleontologist are too fully occupied with their own studies to undertake geographical studies at the same time, even if they had the proper preparation for doing so. The effort at double investigation is seldom successful. In the present stage of study it is more economical to give each investigator a single problem over a whole state, than to assign one person all the problems of a limited district.

It does not seem improbable that in the near future a number of our state surveys may undertake studies in this neglected field, and thus furnish to a new class of readers a fund of material for which they have long been waiting. The teachers of a state will welcome geographical chapters in the annual reports of their survey on the physical features of their home district. The surveys will certainly welcome the new support and interest that will thus be awakened in their work. The geographical chapters may for a time have to be prefaced with introductions, after the