UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. AusTIN, TEXAS, August 27, 1888. SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY. PLAN OF INSTRUCTION. The instruction in this School will be for two distinct classes of students: (1) Those who desire a general knowledge of Geology as an essential part of a liberal education. (2) Those who wish to become practical geological investigators and teachers. The future development of our State depends upon the training of both classes of students, and every effort will be made to create a proper .appreciation of the problems to be solved. Students will be given practical problems in field, laboratory, and bibliographic methods, and advanced students aided in publishing the results of their investigations. This will be done in accordance with a system whereby it is hoped that. th$ fundamental geologic features of Texas will be recorded and the foundations for a progressive scientific knowledge thereof begun. Facilities at the University for Geologic Study.-Austin is most favorably situated for field study of Geology. The city is within easy reach of a most compact and comprehensive geologic section, which includes nearly every horizon from the oldest rocks of Mason and Llano counties on the west, to the marine formations now beautifully seen in operation along our coast. 'l'he State of Texas affords topographic, stratigraphic, lithologic, and paleontologic illustrations of nearly all the geologic phenomena of North America. Austin is also situated upon the contact of two great Mesozoic formations, while in every direction there is an abundance of topographic forms illustrat­ing the laws of fiuviatifo, atmospheric, and orographic modifications of the surface. The study of these geologic features will be greatly facilitated by the accu­rate topographic map of this region which the United States Geological Sur­vey has made. Over 4000 square miles are covered by the topographic sheets. The climate is such as to facilitate out-door study of Geology throughout the year. In addition to the natural advantages of Austin for practical field work, the State of 'rexas has recently made liberal appropriations for a geological survey and museum, and provided suitable quarters in the new State capitol building. This organization must give impetus and fmeouragement to geo­logical study throughout the State, and the University hopes to receive the benefit of the scientific spirit which the State's corps of workers will neces­sarily bring to Austin. The United States Geological Survey has promised, through the director, to aid the Geological School of the University in its original investigations. -2­ 'l'he University laboratories afford ample facilities for all kind of geologic investigation. Steps have already been taken towards a geologic library and arrangements made with the leading museums of the United States for a system of ex­changes. Every facility will be afforded special students and investigators, as it is desired to make the institution the centre of scientific research, and to estab­lish reciprocal relations with leading scientific centres of the world. Specialists, from home or abroad, desirous of carrying out any line of in­vestigation in our State for publication, will be freely given all facilities in the power of the University. Post-graduate students from home and abroad will be especially welcomed. (1) COURSE IN GENERAL GEOLOGY. The general principles of Structural, Dynamic, Historical, and Economic Geology will be taught three hours per week throughout the University year by means of lectures, recitations, laboratory work, and field excursions. In­struction will be facilitated by practical illustrations in the field, when possi­ble, and by charts, specimens, and literature in the laboratory. During the last term each student will be examined upon a representative collection of the most common rocks, minerals, and fossils, which he will be required to make. In some cases geologic maps will be made. (2) ADVANCED AND SPECIAL COURSES. In addition to the general course, provision will be made for continuing geologic studies in the laboratory and field, which will be considered the true places for higher geologic study. Students will be provided with special lines of investigation and encouraged in their pursuit. To this end the fol­lowing subjects will be studied by experimental and practical work in field and laboratory: Geologic Technology-All students will be taught the theory and use of simpler geologic methods, such as the determination of dip, strike, extent and relation of rock sheets; the art of collecting, labeling, and preservation of specimens, including talks upon museum methods. Topographic maps will be constructed, and the best examples of cartography critically ex­amined. Hypsometric measurements will be studied with level, mercurial, and aneroid barometers. Meteorologic methods, including determination of hu­midity precipitation, temperature, and the measurement of velocity and vol­ume of streams, will also be included as requisites of a geologic education. Special arrangements will be made with the Professor of Applied Mathei:nat­ics for instruction in surface mensuration, including triangulation, transit and stactia, plane table measurements, and construction of contour maps. Bibliographic Methods, including talks upon geologic literature, the making of subject bibliographies, history and extent of geologic publications, the making of card catalogues, etc., will be given to advanced classes. P etrography, including methods of research and use of microscope, and the study of rocks in thin sections and by hand. Mineralogy, descriptive and applied, including the study of individual min­eral species, their composition, relation, association, together with blow-pipe analyses, etc., etc., (taught in the chemical laboratory) will be continued, and -3­ the changes which they undergo and part they perform m geologic forma­tions will be especially considered. Paleontology.-The collection, study, and use of fossils as an aid to geologic investigation will be taught in the laboratory and field. The principles of biologic and stratigraphic paleontology, including the character, range, and interpretation of species and faunas will also be taught to students sufficiently acquainted with biology.* Applied or Economic Geology.-In addition to the splendid opportunities already afforded in the Chemical Department of the University for economic instruction, including blow-piping, assaying, and metallurgy, etc., particular attention will be paid to the geologic origin and mode of occurrence of metallic and non-metallic minerals. Special attention, however, will be given to the peculiarly economic stratigraphic questions of geology, such as the origin and classification of agricultural soils, the requisite and qualifying stratigraphic conditions for water supply, and other questions of similar import. Geologic B'xcursions.-In addition to field work in the immediate vicinity of Austin, it is intended to initiate as soon as practicable a series of class ex­cursiobs by rail to the many important and diverse geologic features within a day's ride of Austin, including trips to (1) Galveston, for the purpose of studying the present operation of marine phenomena, including coast build­ing and sedimentation; (2) the Archean and other earlier formations of Mason and Llano counties; (3) the disturbed mountainous areas of North­ern Mexico and \V:estern Texas; (4) the various carboniferous, cretaceous, and tertiary coal fields of the State, and many other points of interest, of which there is an unlimited variety. Camping expeditions will also be un­dertaken when possible. The cost of these excursions will be made very low. Requirements for the Course.-Since Geology is essentially the study of the changes in the structure of the earth from physical, chemical, and biological causes, it is preferable that all students who take up the study of Geology should be prepared in the elementary principles of those subjects. Students should also be familiar with the elements of surveying and physical geog­raphy. No student will be debarred the privileges of the course, however, for want of preparation in any or all of these subjects, and the course will be open to all except such as the Faculty may see fit to exclude on account of other duties. All students will be required to take the general course in the Junior or Senior year of the Course in Science. The studies of students who contem­ plate making the subject a specialty will be directed according to their incli­ vidual requirements. Reference Books.-Experience has shown that no single text-hook can he used to advantage. Each student therefore will be supplied with a series of topics with references to the standard geological treatises of Dana, Le Conte. Geikie, Lyell, Prestivich, to the transactions of leading scientific societies, and to current ~cient.ific publications. By this method it is hoped the stndcnt. will learn to use the literature of Geolngy. Each member of the class will be rn­quested to provide himself with a Manual of Geology. It is not expected that *Owing-to tho lack of bioloµ:io instruction in the Unirnrsit~· at present the• Pnifb:>So1· in Geology will undertake tho dirnction of a ~hort cournc in tho princi!1lec< of' that s11hj<.,cr. in­cluding a few lectnrc,. .tog()ther "·ith the st11fl,>-an11h'.'t':< of thf' c:"''· of a repro~entativc scri 0::; of anirn:t] anrl rog-otal typQ..~. The•. bo\1 1';"' \\·ill h:• nr:·a:1~·~\d ):(~roar~ ter. Text-book: Pa8hard'~ :?;oology. -4­ the class as a whole w_ill use the same manual, but some Dana's, others Le Conte's, others Geikie's, etc., as may be decided upon after consultation with the professor. Dana's Text-Book of Geology (1883) is recommended to general students who do not feel justified in purchasing the larger manuals. It should be remembered, however, that the instruction will be confined to no single text-book. ROBT. T. HILL, Professor. Next session of the University of Texas begins Wednesday, September 26, 1888. For Catalogue and other circulars, write to J AS. B. CLARK, Proctor, Austin, Texas.