United States Geological Survey
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Bulletin No. 227 ' Series G, Miscellaneous, 27 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES L). WALCOTT, DIRECTOR. THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ITS ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATIONS WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT FEINTING OFFICE 1904 L d o 0 CONTENTS. Page. Letter of transmitted...................................................... 7 Introduction ......................^.........................^............ 9 Origin and development of the Survey......................... 9 Present organization of the Survey ............................ 12 General results achieved by the Survey ........................ 14 Administrative branch.................................................... 16 Executive division.................................................... 16 Section of correspondence, records, supplies, and shipments......... 16 Section of instruments............................................ 18 Messenger, watch, and labor force................................. 19 Division of disbursements and accounts .................................. 19 Library............................................................... 21 Geologic branch..........'................................................. 24 Division of geology and paleontology .................................. 24 Division of Alaskau mineral resources ................................. 31 History of investigations...................................... 31 Geography of Alaska ......................................... 33 General features.......................................... 33 The mountains........................................... 34 The rivers ................................................ 36 Coast line and islands .................................... 38 Climate, vegetation, and resources ........................ 39 Operations of the Alaskan division ............................ 39 Results...................................................... 43 Division of mining and mineral resources .............................. 48 Division of chemical and physical researcher)........................... 50 Section of chemistry.............................................. 50 Section of physics ................................................ 53 Topographic branch......................................................... 55 Division of topography ............................................... 55 Eastern and western sections...................................... 55 Section of triangulation and computing ............................ 64 Triangulation ........................................ 65 Base measurement ................................... 65 Primary traverse..................................... 66 Spirit leveling........................................ 66 Office work .......................................... 69 Section of inspection of surveying and mapping .................... 70 Division of geography and forestry .................................... 71 Hydrographic branch .................................................... 74 Division of hydrography..'...................................... 1...... 75 Division of hydrology ............................................'..... 84 Eastern and western sections...................................... 84 Division of hydro-economics .......................................... 88 Reclamation.service .................................!.............'... 91 3 4 CONTENTS. Page. Publication branch........................................................ 93 Editorial division .................................................... 93 .Section of texts ........ ......................................... 94 Section of geologic maps................................ .......... 98 Section of topographic maps ...................................... 104 Section of illustrations............................................ 108 Section of photography........................................... 110 Division of engraving and printing ........... ^........................ 113 Division of documents ................................................ 117 Publications of the United States Geological Survey ........................ 119 AnnualKeports...................................................... ' 120 Monographs ......................................... .....^,,......... 130 Professional Papers.-.- .............................................. 133 Bulletins .:.......................................................... 135 Water-Supply and Irrigation Papers................................... 144 ' Mineral Resources.................................................... 150 Annual Reports of the Reclamation Service ............................ 151 Geologic Atlas of United States........................................ 152 Topographic maps and folios.......................................... 155 Reports and maps relating to Alaska................................... 198 Index ...................:........-.....................:................ 203 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. PF,ATE I. Map of United States, showing location of geologic field parties in 1903.......................................................... 28 II. Geologic map and section of the region around Telluride, Colo., illustrating the method of representing geologic formations...... 30 III. Map of Alaska, showing progress of geologic and topographic recon naissances and special investigations............................ 46 IV. Map of United States, showing locations of topographic field parties in 1903-4 ..................................................... 62 V. Map of United States, showing areas covered by topographic surveys. 64 VI. Map of United States, showing condition of astronomic location and primary control on January 1, 1904 ............................ 70 VII. A, Typical bridge gaging station Mississippi River at An oka, Minn.; B, Typical cable gaging station Milk River at Havre, Mont..... 82 VIII. A, Apparatus for rating current meters at Chevy Chase, Md.; R, Typical weir gaging station, Los Angeles River, California........ 84 IX. Price electric current meters, with buzzers ........................ 84 FIG. 1. Ideal view and corresponding contour map .......................... 58 2. Map showing locations of river stations and principal irrigation proj ects in western half of United States in 1903-4....... '. ............. 80 . 3. Map showing locations of river stations in eastern half of United States in 1903-4 ............................ '. .......................... 81 4. Map showing progress of work on underground waters in western half of United States in 1903-4........................................ 86 5. Map showing progress of work on underground waters in eastern half of United States in 1903-4........................................ 87 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Washington, I). C., February 18, 190 Jf. SIR: There is presented herewith, for publication as a bulletin, an account of the origin, development, and present organization of the United States Geological Survey, with short summaries of its various operations during the first quarter-century of its existence. This bul letin has been prepared in accordance with your instructions, and it is believed that it will be read with interest generally, both in this .coun try and abroad, as a brief record of the rise, growth, administration, and work of an important branch of the public service. Very respectfully, H. C. RIZER, - Chief Clerk. Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT, Director of United States (Geological Survey. THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: ITS ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATIONS. INTRODUCTION. ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SURVEY. The. United States Geological Survey, in the Department of the Interior, was created by act of Congress approved March 3, 1879, so that March 3, 1904, marks the completion of the twenty-fifth year of its existence. The quarter-century anniversary happens to fall near the date set for the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, at which the Surve}7 will make an exhibit. It is hoped that many of the people of this country will be interested in that exhibit, and, in connection therewith, it has been thought desirable to place before the public, by means of a small bulletin, an account of the organ- ization and work of the Survey and the results it has achieved. Prior to the date of the act above mentioned five Federal surveys had been engaged in mapping portions of the territory of the United States. The oldest of these, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, had restricted its mapping to the coast line, but had extended certain geo detic and scientific investigations over various portions of the country. The other four organizations had made topographic, geologic, and other scientific and economic surveys in the Territories west of the one hun dredth meridian. The.Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel was engaged from 1867 to 1872, under the direction of Mr. Clarence King, in surveying a zone, 105 miles wide, extending from the merid- .ian of 1040 to that of 120° west of Greenwich, and comprising an area of 86,390 square miles. The Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, under Dr. F. V. Hayden, between 1873 and 1878, sur veyed areas in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho, comprising about 100,000 square miles. The Geographical Survey West of the One Hundredth Meridian, under Capt. George M. Wheeler, U. S. Army, was engaged in extending surveys in various