PRACTICAL VALUE OF SCIENCE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 90, 21 June 1879, Page 2

PRACTICAL VALUE OF SCIENCE.

Can thu study of geology bo of use to any outside of the guild;' Let us see for a moment. The science of geology, dealing its it does with the only visible record of imy considerable uge, in regard to the history of life upon our planet, niH.-t settle the vexed questions—if they are ever to be settled—of the origin of species, ihe antiquity, and perhaps the unity of man. Io many, the acceptance of the new theories oil these points is equivalent to legislating God out ,of the universe. If so uiauy are wrecked upon these questions, the correct understanding of them is a matter of no little importance. Has a farmer any interest in knowing whether mineral products are to lie found Upon bis land, and, it' so, whether they are valuable, and in paying quantities .' Has he coal, iron, load,zinc, baryta,ocher, peat, or clay, valuable minerals or mineral springs, or nick fit for building purposes, within bis limits!' These questions must lie answered, if at all, by tlio geologist. Those products are found in curtain layers or groups of rocks, whose position s definitely known by certain marks easily recognizable. These marks an- the remains of the buried dead of ages past, that have written their own epitaphs upon the rocks, which servo the double purpose of sepulchre and tombstone. Many a man has spent all his living in trying to extract gold or other valuable minerals from deposits which one initiated could tell him at a glance were! entirely worthless. Many a man has sunk a fortune in mining for coal, lead, zinc, or other ores, on the unsafe supposition that, because his neighbour in the valley below him finds these ill abundance, he will have equal success by sinking a shaft to the same level. A brief survey of the inclination of the rooky strata would show that the rocks which is neighbour finds so productive dip away from him ; or by an upward curvature of the earth's crust, which formed the elevation on which lie stands, the wealth-bearing stratum was exposed, on the surface, to the action of frost and Hood has been completely washed away. From bitter experiences like those prospectors and miners have learned that knowledge and advice of a well-versed geologist is invaluable to them, and have not hesitated to offer and pay 1000 dollars per day for his services.

From later geologieal study of Hoosac Mountain, it seems probable that millions of dollars might have been saved to the State of Massachusetts if such a study had preceded the excavation of the great Hoosac tunnel. The assert ion is ventured that enough funds were needlessly expended to pay for a complete topographical, geological, zoological and botanical survey of tbe whole common-wealth such as no State in the Union now possesses, and such as would for ever put away the danger of similar loss in the future.

How to inako two blades of grass grow where onu "row beforo and how, in general, to got the most out of this rieli old oarth of ours, is tho absordiug question of all ages. In tho van of all exploring expeditions goes a band of scientists, or at least the geologist, to learn of tho wealth, of his future homo; and by the use of revelations of seientiflo research, he may select beforehand his locality, and carry with him the information concerning Tho cost of production of tho precious metals, and their probable abundance for years, decades, and centuries to come, must be determined by the geologist. Upon this knowledge dopouds the value of gold ami silver on standsrds of value and medio ofoxohaugo. From this source wo learn that tho amount of gold obtainable is constantly diminishing, while that of silver is slowly increasing. The former is muoh more fluctuating than tho latter, hence a less desirable standard of value; and as caoh acts as a check upon tho other, there is wisdom in aocepting both as media of oxohange. From this wo sec the important part tho geologist plays in tho mooted question as to" tho demonetizing of silver. The Advance