Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
A History of Geologic Study in Oregon
The currency of science is the published not become extinct, and, since he had seen bones of
literature. In this regard, the record of publications the giant sloth, Megalonyx, in Virginia, he felt that
reflects the history of the development of geological these huge beasts had migrated westward instead of
sciences in Oregon. disappearing from the earth. However, no one with
training in geology accompanied the expedition, and
Exploring Expeditions
the resulting volume,
History of Expedition under the
The study of geology in the Pacific Northwest
Command of Lewis and Clark to the Sources of the
began obliquely with the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Missouri, thence across the Rocky Mountains, and down
commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803
the Columbia,
published in 1814, is of minimal geologic
to explore the west to the Pacific Ocean. President relevance.
Jefferson, in a lengthy letter of instructions, exhorted Thirty years went by, including nearly 10 years
the party to look for the
"remains and accounts of any
of debate in Congress, before a bill was passed on May
[animals] which may be deemed rare or extinct. The
14, 1836, to outfit an exploring expedition to the
mineral productions of every kind
...
[and] volcanic
southern polar regions as well as along the Pacific
appearances."
Jefferson was convinced that animals did
islands and northwest coast of this continent. One
View looking toward Saddle Mountain from Youngs River below Olney, Clatsop County. Illustration by
Joseph S. Diller, 1896.
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