The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Hill, Robert Thomas

HILL, Robert Thomas, American geologist: b. Nashville, Tenn., 11 Aug. 1858. He was graduated from Cornell University in 1866 and was immediately given a position on the United States Geological Survey. He was also a lecturer in the school of economics at the University of Michigan, and professor of geology at the University of Texas for two years, which position he resigned to return to the United States Geological Survey. He has been engaged in geological and geographical explorations in the Southwestern States, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. His work in the two last-mentioned localities has been the investigation of the origin of the land forms, and the problem of the union of the continents. Among his most valuable contributions to geological science have been the proof of the existence of the lower cretaceous formation in the United States and the announcement of the possibility of artesian wells in Texas. In May 1902 he was sent by the National Geographical Society at the head of the expedition to investigate the volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée in Martinique. His publications include ‘On Occurrence of Artesian and Other Underground Waters in Texas, Eastern New Mexico, and Indian Territory’ (1892); ‘Cuba and Porto Rico with other Islands of the West Indies’ (1898); and numerous contributions to the bulletins of the Geological Survey and periodicals.