42 INTRODUCTION

at the same time it will show the character of the state, in its varied
physiography and climate, as a place of residence. Such a treatment
of the physical resources of Maryland, in which both the surface and
underground conditions are considered, will indicate not only to the
people of the state the special advantages of each district, but will
be sure to invite the investment of capital by outsiders and at the
same time induce immigration.

In addition to the distinctly economic importance of such reports,
their educational significance should not be lost sight of. They will
be of great value for the instruction of the people of the state in all
matters relating to their physical surroundings, and in a simplified
form could be made suitable for school purposes. If the people of
the state should desire it, an elementary treatise could be written,
which would be well adapted for purposes of public instruction. This
could be prepared without any added expenditure, excepting that in-
volved in the printing. It is most desirable that the youth of Mary-
land should grow up with a knowledge of the country in which they
live and be able to interpret intelligently the physical features of the
state, the mountains and valleys, the rocks and minerals and the
economic products which are so accessible to them. It is greatly to be
desired, when such large sums are annually devoted to the purposes of
public instruction, that a means so valuable for training the powers
of observation should not be totally ignored. Although this is not
the primary object for which the survey is established, yet the results
in this line, without added expense to the state, could be made of
great practical benefit to succeeding generations.