Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - ISGS New Mineral Lab [PAGE 9]

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by the 57th General Assembly and signed without vetoes by Governor Emmerson. The funds became available July 1st, and immediately steps were taken by the University of Illinois to provide the necessary additional housing and by the Chief of the Survey to select capable personnel and suitable equipment. The additional housing necessary for the new laboratories is of a temporary character in view of desirability for strict economy at this time.

OUTLINE OF THE NEW PROGRAM

The motives of the new program are: (1) To secure and make available scientific and economic information essential to the nourishment and promotion of the State's mineral industries and helpful to the public welfare. (2) To investigate thoroughly the constitution and properties of the mineral and rock substances, such as is needed to light the way for beneficiation, improved uses and new uses. (3) To bring the fundamental information to the point where it can be of use to industrial organizations and individuals in successfully and profitably exploiting the mineral deposits to the fullest extent. (4) To make known 'the production and flow of minerals into and out of the State, the opportunities of the consuming market in the natural geographic market area of the State, the obstacles or limitations existing, and the trend of the industries. It is expected that the possession and distribution of such information will not only aid the industries but will be helpful in keeping the research program constantly oriented with respect to the urgent needs of the industries. It is intended that the Survey's laboratories shall not take on testing of a routine nature, inasmuch as there are excellent commercial testing laboratories already available. It would be fatal if the research for data of the character mentioned above were to be diverted and replaced by time-consuming routine testing. Hitherto the Geological Survey has concerned itself primarily with the study of the raw minerals and rock substances of the State. This work will continue, but the new program proposes to take advantage of the mass of information already gathered and that which it will continue to gather by detailed surveys, and extend the scope of research to cover utilization and marketing. This is an undertaking which cannot be carried to its ultimate goal except by an organization which is in position to approach it from a comprefro I