THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 1891-'92 BY J. W. POWELL DIRECTOR IN THREE PARTS PART I-REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1892 THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DII~ HCCTOH OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Part I.—REPORT OF DIRECTOR. III CONTENTS. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. Page. Letter of i ransmittal 1 Plan of operations for the fiscal year 1891—'92 3 Topography 4 Supervision, disbursements, etc . 4 Northeastern section 5 Southeastern section 6 Central section California gold-belt section 7 Southern California section 7 Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming section 7 Idaho section 7 Montana section 8 Texas section 8 Washington section 8 Special work 8 Miscellaneous office work 8 Geology 9 Executive office, etc 10 Division of geologic correlation 10 Atlantic coast division 11 Archean division 11 New Jersey division 12 Potomac division . 12 Appalachian division 12 Florida division 13 Lake Superior division . ................ ...... ............. 13 Division of glacial geology 13 Division of zinc 13 Montana division 14 Yellowstone Park division 14 Colorado division_ 11 Cascade division and petrographic laboratory 15 Calfornia division 15 Miscellaneous 15 Paleontology _ 16 Division of Paleozoic invertebrates. 16 Division of lower Mesozoic paleontology 17 Division of upper Mesozoic paleontology 18 Division of Cenozoic paleontology 18 Division of paleobotany 18 Division of fossil insects 19 Division of vertebrate paleontology 20 V VI CONTENTS. Plan of operations for the fiscal year 1891—'92—Continued. Page. Chemical and physical work 20 Auxiliary work 21 Division of illustrations 21 Division of mining statistics 21 Division of engraving and printing 21 Library division 22 Editorial division 22 Organization of the work 22 Progress in topographic work 25 Surveying 25 Engraving 28 Progress in geologic work 31 Geologic mapping 31 Preliminary surveys 35 Surveys in Alaska 35 Special investigations 36 Publications _ 37 Personnel 40 Progress in paleontologic work 40 Progress of work in chemistry and physics 42 Progress of work in mining statistics and technology 44 Mineral values 44 Metals 46 Fuels 49 Structural materials 49 Miscellaneous 50 Progress of hydrographic work 52 Progress of office work 53 Work on illustrations 53 Work in engraving 54 Work in the library 55 Editorial work 55 Disbursements 55 Financial statement 56 Acknowledgments 61 The award of the Cuvier prize 61 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS. Report of Mr. Henry Gannett 69 Mr. A. H. Thompson 75 Mr. G. K. Gilbert 83 Prof. N. S. Shaler 99 Mr. Raphael Pumpelly 100 Mr. W. J. McGee 103 Mr. Bailey Willis 114 Mr. George H. Eldridge 117 Prof. C. R. Van Hise 118 Prof. T. C. Chamberlin 121 Mr. W. P. Jenney 123 Mr. A. C. Peale 124 Mr. Arnold Hague 125 Mr. S. F. Emmons 128 Mr. J. S. Diller 131 Mr. G. F. Becker 133 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Washington, D. C., July 1, 1892. SIR : I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the operations of the Geological Survey for the year ending June 30, 1892. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, r-- Director. Hon. JOHN W. NOBLE, Secretary of the Interior. 13 GEOL 1 THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. By J. W. POWELL, DIRECTOR. .PLAN OP OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1891-'92. Previous to the beginning of the fiscal year the following plan of operations was submitted to the honorable the Secre- tary of the Interior and by him approved : By the terms of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1891, making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1892, etc., there is appropriated for the work of the U. S. Geological Survey the sum of $596,400. Separate amounts are by the terms of the act set apart for specific branches of work and for the salaries of persons con- nected with these branches. For convenience of reference I have brought together and classified the appropriation as follows: For one general assistant $3, 000 For pay of skilled laborers, etc 15, 000 For topographic surveys $250, 000 For salaries 7 geographers and topographers 16, 200 Total for topographic work 266, 200 For geologic surveys $115, 000 For salaries 12 geologists 37, 500 Total for geologic work 152.500 For paleontologic researches $40, 000 For salaries 2 paleontologists 6, 000 Total for paleontologic work 46, 000 For chemical and physical researches $17, 000 For salaries 2 chemists 5, 000 Total for chemical work 22, 000 For preparation of illustrations, etc 16, 00 For preparation Report on Mineral Resources 10, 000 For engraving geological maps, etc 60, 000 For purchase of books, etc 2, 500 For rent 3, 200 Total appropriations in the sundry civil act for salaries of scientific assistants and for general expenses of the Geological Survey__ - $596, 400 3 4 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. TOPOGRAPHY. Herewith is transmitted a map of the United States on which areas already surveyed are shown by a blue tint and those which it is planned to survey during the coming year by a pink tint. It is recommended that topographic work east of the one hundredth meridian be continued under the direction of Mr. Henry Gannett, chief topographer, and that for this work there be allotted the sum of $125,000 plus six stated salaries amounting to $13,700, making a total allotment of $138,700. It is recommended that topographic work west of the one hundredth meridian be continued under the direction of Mr. A. H. Thompson, and that for this work there be allotted the sum of $125,000 plus one stated salary of $2,500, making a total allotment of $127,500. The following abstract of allotments for topography is fol- lowed by a detailed explanation of work contemplated: Abstract of allotment for topography, 1891-'92. Eastern. Western. Total. Supervision, disbursement, etc $13, 700 $6, 000 $19, 700 Northeast section, 9 parties 35, 000 35, 000 Southeast section, 4 parties 45, 000 45, 000 Central section, 5 parties 35, 000 35, 000 California gold belt, 4 parties 19, 000 19, 000 California, southern, 3 parties 12, 000 12, 000 Colorado (with South Dakota and Wyoming), 7 par- ties 29, 500 29, 500 Idaho, 2 parties 13, 000 13, 000 Montana, 3 parties 12, 000 12, 000 Texas, 5 parties 19, 000 19, 000 Washington 3, 500 3, 500 Special work 3, 500 3, 500 Office force 10, 000 10, 000 20, 000 Total 138, 700 127, 500 266, 200 SUPERVISION, DISBURSEMENT, ETC. It is recommended that for the pay of the chief topographer in charge of the topographic work east of the one hundredth meridian, of stenographer, disbursing agent, and custodian REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 5 of instruments ; for the expenses of the astronomical and com- puting section, and for the maintenance of the shop for repair of instruments, including salaries of persons employed, and for other miscellaneous expenses, there be allotted the sum of $13,700. The following persons are to be employed in this work Henry Gannett, J. T. Ainsworth, S. A. Aplin, P. H. Christie, D. M. Hess, G. A. Hornig, S. S. Gannett, A. Kramer, E. Kiibel. It is recommended that the pay of the officer in charge of topographic work west of the one hundredth meridian, the dis- bursing agent, and for clerical assistance, the disbursement to be made in field or office as shall be most convenient, there be allotted the sum of $6,000. The following persons are to be employed in this work: A. H. Thompson and J. W. Spencer. It is proposed to divide the topographic work east of the one hundredth meridian into three sections—the northeastern, southeastern and central. NORTHEASTERN SECTION. It is recommended. that this section be continued in charge of Mr. H. M. Wilson, geographer, and that work be prose- cuted in (a) southwestern Maine by two parties working in the valley of the Kennebec river, (b) by two parties working in the White mountain region of New Hampshire, (c) by one party in the vicinity of Rutland, Vermont, (d) by two parties in the vicinity of Albany, New York, and (e) by two parties in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania. The proposed areas of work are shown on the accompanying map. The following persons will be employed in this section : Beaman, W. M. Johnson, G. L. Smith, G. S. Clark, E. B. Lambert, M. B. Sutton, Frank. Dudley, A. F. Lincoln, J. J. Thom, J. W. Hyde, G. E. Lovell, W. H. Wheat, J. H. Jennings, J. H. McCormick, James. Muldrow, R. For the work above outlined it is recommended that there be allotted the sum of $35,000. 6 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. SOUTHEASTERN SECTION. It is recommended that this section remain in charge of Mr. Gilbert Thompson, chief geographer, and that work be pros- ecuted (a) in the central part of West Virginia, (b) in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, (c) in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, and (d) in northeastern Alabama in the area occu- pied by the Black Warrior coal fields. It is probable also that some three or four persons. will be independently employed in miscellaneous inspection and revision work. The following men will be employed in this section: Arrick, C. Goodlove, C. W. Miller, W. L. Barnard, E. C. Hackett, M. Munroe, H. Beall, W. 0. Hannegan, D. Mifflin, A. E. Cooke, C. E. Lincoln, J. D. Nell, L. Crook, H. E. Lougstreet, R. A. Van Hook, C. G. Fletcher, L. C. Metzger, F. P. Yeates, C. M. Frye, W. C. For the work above outlined it is recommended that there be allotted the sum of $45,000.