DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR BULLETIN 465 THE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS OF THE UNITED STATES COMPILED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF C. W. HAYES WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1911 CONTENTS. Page. Introduction.___________________._____________________ 5 Alabama___________________.__________________ 9 Arizona______________-._______________________ 10 Arkansas_______________________ _________.__________ 17 California___________________ ____________________ 20 Colorado__________'__..________________________ 24 Connecticut________________. ___________________ 29 Florida_____.._______ __ _________:.._____!_ 34 Georgia.._______ - 30 Illinois.-.-^-______________.-______________________ 42 Indiana______ _ _^=rr».- _--^ _ 51 Iowa__________________-____________________ 53 Kansas_____________ _ - _ _-__ 59 Maine__________________.- ___ __i_ __________ 63 Maryland______ _ ._-__ _ _ _____________ 69 Michigan_____ _ ___ _ 76 Minnesota__.._____________-____--- _ _______ SO Mississippi______..__ _--_ - __ 82 Missouri--________ _____ _- __ __ _ 86 Nebraska________ _ ,- __ 89 New Jersey_______ __ ___..- _ ..____ 90 New York____.__________-. ____________________:_ 98 North Carolina____________-__ _ __ __ ____ 101 North Dakota___-_._____J_.-___ -__ _ __ _________ 306 Ohio_____________________--__ ______________ 108 Oklahoma___________...--__- ___ _ ~- _ _ 116 Pennsylvania_______ _____________ _____ .__-__ ___ 122 Rhode Island___________________ __ _ __ 130 South Carolina__ -___ _______ _ 135 Tennessee-___ _______ ____ ___________ 138 Vermont____.._______._____. _ ..: __ 142 Virginia.- __ _ :__- 144 Washington_______ . - 149 West Virginia.. 153 Wisconsin___ -_ - 159 Appendix- 167 Internal Improvement Commission of Illinois__ ______________ 167 Territorial engineer of New Mexico __________ ___. 169 New York State Water Supply Commissiou 171 3 THE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS OF THE UNITED STATES. Compiled under the direction of C. W. HATES. INTRODUCTION. Information concerning State geological surveys is difficult or impossible to obtain. Much of it is scattered through many publica­ tions, and many facts regarding organization and methods are not published. Such information is in constant demand by cooperating State and Federal organizations, by persons interested in the organi­ zation of new State surveys, and by the State geologists themselves. It is the last named to whom the information is of greatest value, for many common problems of administration are met by all State geologists, and a statement of the successful solution of a problem by one will help others to solve the same problem. This need of accurate information was urgently expressed by the geologists and engineers in attendance at a conference held in Washington in the spring of 1910, and as a result of rather full discussion a committee was appointed to take charge of the matter. It seemed to the com­ mittee that the end in view could be best attained by requesting the heads of the several surveys to prepare statements regarding their organizations. Accordingly the following circular letter and out­ line were submitted to all State geologists and to all State engineers and other officials having cooperative relations with the Federal Survey. TRENTON, N. J., July 15, 1910. DEAR SIR: At the conference of the officials of the United States Geological Survey and the State geologists and heads of other cooperating bureaus held in Washington May 31-June 1, a committee was appointed to collect and com­ pile information regarding the organization and work of the various surveys with a view to its early publication as a handbook of geological and hydro- graphic surveys in the United States. As all present at the conference seemed to wish the plan carried out, it is hoped that those absent will also find it attractive and will assist in its preparation. In order that the statements may be accurate and comprehensive, it is desired that they be carefully prepared for publication by some official of the respective surveys, and that the subsequent work of compiling and editing be reduced to a minimum. To this end please follow as closely as possible the following out- 5 6 STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS OF THE UNITED STATES. line, giving in narrative form explicit information on as many of the points mentioned as are applicable to your survey or bureau. In order that the bulletin may be issued with reasonable promptness, please prepare and forward the data without delay to Dr. C. W. Hayes, United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. Yours truly, H. B. KUMMEL, New Jersey, .0. W. HAYES, United States Geological Survey, F. W. DE WOLF, Illinois, W. McGoLLOH, New York, Committee. OUTLINE. 1. Give a brief resume (600 to 800 words) of previous geological surveys or of antecedent scientific bureaus in your State, of which your bureau is the outgrowth, giving specifically the name of each, date, scope of work and accom­ plishments, and causes of discontinuance. 2. Give the exact name of the present survey or bureau and date of its organization. 3. Give a summary of the laws governing your survey which are now operative. 4. If not already given under 3, outline the organization of your survey under the following heads: (a) Governing board. Name, number of persons, method of appointment, terms of office, compensation (if any) as members of this board (not salaries if they serve ex offlcio). (b) Executive officer. Title, name of individual, method of appointment, date of appointment of present incumbent, term of office. If an ex officio appoint­ ment or other State or educational position is held, please state; give propor­ tion of time spent on survey work. Indicate whether compensation is per diem or by regular monthly or annual salary; how fixed, whether by law or by rule of governing board. (c) Subordinates. Group your subordinates into three classes (1) clerical; (2) geologic, including chemical and technologic; (3) topographic, including engineering and hydrographic. For each of these classes give the approximate number of each class employed, their method of appointment (by the managing board, executive head, with or without intervention of civil-service commission, etc.), term of service, per diem or permanent, range of pay for different classes. It is particularly desired to know to what extent advanced college students or college professors are employed on surveys. 5. Appropriations. A. Please state how your appropriations are made, whether continuing, annual, biennial, or for any stated period. Are any con­ tingent upon cooperation? B. Do unexpended balances carry to a new fiscal year or do they lapse to the treasury? If the latter, how soon after the close of the year? C. Give your annual appropriation, specifying objects, if so fixed by law. D. Estimate in percentages the average' expenditure under the following heads: (a) Administrative and routine clerical; include only such part of the salary of the head of the survey and of others as may be charged to administrative work. (&) Topographic, including field work and office work (not administrative). INTRODUCTION. 7 (c) Economic, stratigraphic, and areal geology, including office work in preparation of reports. (d) Statistical geology. (e) Paleoutologic geology as distinct from stratigraphic. (/) Chemical work. (g) Underground water resources. (h) Drainage surveys. (i) Stream flow and reservoir surveys. (j) Testing road materials or other highway work, not including construc­ tion. (7c) Highway construction. (I) Other technologic work. (???) Other lines of work or combinations which can not be included under above heads, specifying nature of work. 6. Publications. A. Enumerate the various series of reports, bulletins, mono­ graphs, and maps published, giving the (a) number of volumes of each series so far issued, (ft) size of editions, (c) method of distribution (if sold, give average annual income and its disposition whether paid to State treasury, etc.). B. Average annual cost of printing reports and accompanying maps for last five years or by volumes. Does this come from your Survey appropriation or from some other fund? C. Do you have full control over printing your maps and reports, as to choice of printer, style of report, paper, illustrations, etc., contents of report? If not, state explicitly the nature of the limitations. D. Do you have full control over distribution of your reports? What classes of persons and institutions are on your mailing list and how is it kept alive? 7. Present main lines of work, (1) by your bureau independently; (2) in co­ operation (state nature and extent of cooperative work) : (a) With the United States Geological Survey, (6) with geological surveys of other States, (c) with other bureaus of the National Government, (d) with other scientific bureaus of your own State. It' was hoped that by means of the above outline a fair degree of uniformity of treatment would be secured, and this hope has been in a measure realized. Necessarily some editing has been required, but this has been confined so far as possible to matters of form, arrange­ ment, headings, etc. The delay in transmitting the material to press has been due to delay of the authors in furnishing it, although a number'of requests of increasing urgency were sent to several of the delinquents. It was originally intended that the bulletin should include all State organizations which cooperated with the United States Geolog­ ical Survey in geology, topography, or hydrography, but only a few of