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 involved in the printing. It is most desirable that the youth of Maryland 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.

PART II

HISTORICAL SKETCH

EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE

PROGRESS OF INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF MARYLAND

BY

WM. BULLOCK CLARK

HISTORICAL SKETCH

EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE

PROGRESS OF INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF MARYLAND.

INFORMATION ACQUIRED DURING COLONIAL DAYS REGARDING THE PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE.

The Chesapeake Bay was probably known to some extent to the Spaniards early in the 16th century, as there is good evidence that a special expedition was sent to the region many years before the English attempted to establish themselves in any part of the American continent. An account of this expedition is to be found in a book' published at Madrid in 1723.

Although the Chesapeake Bay was doubtless thus early entered by Spanish explorers, the first account of the physical characteristics of the Maryland area was given by Captain John Smith, who, in an open boat with a few companions, began an exploration of the Chesapeake Bay and its numerous tributaries in the year 1608. During the two trips which he made into the upper portion of the Chesapeake during the summer of that year, the shores of the Bay were surveyed as far as the Susquehanna river. The harbor of Baltimore was probably entered and the Potomac river was ascended as far as the falls above Georgetown. The intervening portions of the country were also explored, and the map which Captain Smith prepared shows with remarkable correctness the outlines of the regions which he visited.

1

Ensayo Cronologico para la Historia de la Florida por Don Gabreil de Cardenas y Cano.

2 The Generall Historie of Virginia, London, 1624. See Bibliography.

During his first voyage, following the eastern shore of the Chesapeake into the southern limits of the state, Captain Smith describes the land as low and bordered with marshes; then crossing to the western shore of the bay he compared the country to that which he had left in the following words:

"Finding this Easterne shore, shallow broken Isles, and for the mostpart without fresh water, we passed by the straits of Limbo' for the Westerne shore; so broad is the bay here, we could scarce perceiue the great high clifts on the other side: by them we Anchored that night and called them Riccards Cliftes. 30 leagues we sayled more Northwards not finding any inhabitants, leaving all the Eastern shore, lowe Islandes, but ouergrowne with wood, as all the Coast beyond them so farre as wee could see; the Westerne shore by which we sayled we found all along well watered, but very mountanous and barren, the vallies very fertill, but extreame thicke of small wood so well as trees, and much frequented with wolues, Beares, Deere, and other wild beasts. We passed many shallow creekes, but the first we found Navigable for a ship, we called Bolus, for that the clay in many places vnder the clifts by the high water marke, did grow vp in red and white knots as gum out of trees; and in some places so participated together as though they were all of one nature, excepting the coulour, the rest of the earth on both sides being hard sandy grauell, which made vs thinke it bole-armoniack and terre sigillata.”

Returning thence southward, the Potomac river was entered, the high bluffs of which are compared with those which were observed on the bay shore.

Upon the second voyage which took place later in the summer of the same year the head of the Chesapeake Bay was visited and many of the physical characteristics of the region were observed.

Very little further knowledge was gained in regard to the physical features of Maryland until the arrival of the first permanent settlers in 1634; before their departure Lord Baltimore in his instructions told them to look out for proper places for making salt and saltpeter and to search for iron and for other ores. In his narrative of the voyage written during that year by Father White to his religious superiors at Rome many interesting facts regarding the physiography of southern Maryland may be found. Father White's description of

Now called Hooper's Straits.

2 Now called Calvert Cliffs.

5

3 Now called the Patapsco river. Calvert Papers, I, p. 140.

5 Relatio Itineris in Marylandiam, 1634.