Pennsylvania Act 1919-205 — BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CREATED

Act text

BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CREATED
                  Act of Jun. 7, 1919, P.L. 420, No. 205              Cl. 68
                                  AN ACT

     Creating a Bureau of Topographic and Geological Survey in the
        Department of Internal Affairs; providing for a topographic
        and geological survey of the State; and abolishing the
        Topographic and Geological Survey Commission of Pennsylvania
        and all offices or places held under said commission.

        Section 1.  (1 repealed June 7, 1923, P.L.498, No.274)
        Section 2.  (2 repealed June 7, 1923, P.L.498, No.274)
        Section 3.  (3 repealed June 7, 1923, P.L.498, No.274)
        Section 4.  The bureau shall undertake, conduct, and maintain
     the organization of a thorough and extended survey of the State
     for the purpose of elucidating the geology and topography of the
     State.
        The survey shall disclose such chemical analysis and location
     of ores, coals, oils, clays, soils, fertilizing and of other
     useful minerals, and of waters, as shall be necessary to afford
     the agricultural, mining, metallurgical, and other interests of
     the State a clear insight into the character of its resources.
     The survey shall also disclose the location and character of
     such rock formation as may be useful in the construction of
     highways or for any other purpose.
        The bureau shall collect such specimens as may be necessary
     to form a complete cabinet collection of specimens of the
     geological and mineral resources of the State. The State Museum
     shall be the repository of such specimens.
        The results of the survey shall be, with the results of
     previous surveys, put into form convenient for reference.
        Section 5.  (5 repealed June 7, 1923, P.L.498, No.274)
        Section 6.  The bureau shall collect copies of the surveys of
     this and other States and countries, and shall digest the
     information therein contained, to the end that the survey hereby
     contemplated may be made as thorough, practical, and convenient
     as possible.
        Section 7.  Any person employed for the purposes of the
     survey may enter into and upon all lands and localities in this
     State which it may be necessary to examine. In such entry no
     damage to property shall be done.
        Section 8.  The bureau shall avail itself as fully as
     possible of the information, maps, and surveys, possessed by
     citizens and corporations of this State, relative to the geology
     and topography of the State.
        All the facts, of whatever nature, obtained by the survey
     shall be considered public property, and any concealment or
     speculative use of the same is prohibited.
        All publications of the survey or any part thereof shall be
     copyrighted by the Department of Internal Affairs in the name of
     the Commonwealth.
        Section 9.  The bureau may arrange for the cooperation of the
     United States Geological Survey or of such other national
     organization as may be authorized to engage in such work, but
     only in such manner as not to interfere with the plan approved
     in the manner hereinbefore provided, it being the intent that a
     prompt and complete survey of this State shall be had without
     interference or control from any other governmental or private
     agency or organization.
        Section 10.  (10 repealed June 7, 1923, P.L.498, No.274)
        Section 11.  (11 repealed June 7, 1923, P.L.498, No.274)
        Section 12.  (12 repealed June 7, 1923, P.L.498, No.274)
        Section 13.  The Topographic and Geological Survey Commission
     of Pennsylvania, which was established by an act, entitled "An
     act authorizing the Topographic and Geological Survey Commission
     of Pennsylvania to establish and maintain a topographic and
     geological survey of the State; fixing salaries; providing for
     the printing and binding of the results of said survey and
     furnishing of supplies and stationery; and making an
     appropriation therefor," approved May thirteenth, one thousand
     nine hundred and nine (Pamphlet Laws, eight hundred twenty-
     eight), and all offices and places held thereunder are hereby
     abolished. The said commission shall, upon demand made by the
     Secretary of Internal Affairs, transfer or cause to be
     transferred to him, for the use of the said bureau, all papers,
     maps, surveys, reports, analyses, samples, materials,
     instruments, supplies, evidences, and manuscripts relating to
     investigations or explorations, completed and uncompleted, and
     all property, of any and every nature or character whatsoever,
     being the property of the State, in the possession or custody of
     the said commission, the State Geologist, or their employes or
     agents, as soon as the same can be conveniently done.
        Section 14.  This act shall be in effect on the first day of
     June, nineteen hundred and nineteen.
        Section 15.  All laws or parts of laws inconsistent with this
     act are hereby repealed.