New-York tribune., 1874-01-02

The Sixth Annual Report, WniCn contains Inc pro-
minary results Of the work Of lS2 is already pub
lshed and forms an octave volume of $40 pages,
with five maps, twelve plates, and over seventy
wood-cut illustrations. This is the most important
report of the series 1t gives much more complete
account of the Geysers and other wonders of the
National Park, than the previous publications. The
above account gives q brief history OF the Survey
to the Spring of 1873. sI. .H ..'., ..t lI q. h.-
PUBLICATIONS OF THE SURVEY. DID 900
The publications of the Survey are composed
for the most part of original material, and
are divided into three kinds. having dis
tinct objects in view. The first class en-
braces reports, of which six have already been pub
lshed, and the seventh is in process of prepara
ton, and will bo issued early in the Spring The
annual reports usually printed in large editions.
and distributed freely among the people. On this
account an attempt has been made to give them
popular cast, as far as possible. Preliminary
notices of all the more important discoveries appear
i'll these annual reports.
The second class has been called Miscellaneous
Publications" and is intended 10 embrace materials
collected by the Survey less popular in their charac-
ter than the first class and less technical than the
third. These are issued in small editions and in
octave form. No. is pamphlet of Al pages, COM
prisng lists of elevations of various points west OF
the Mississippi. and forms contribution toward
relief map of the great West. 1t will be very much
enlarged and brought up to date and re-
printed during the coming Winter. No. 2 COM
prises the meteorological observations of the Survey
during the season of 1872, and covers 12O pages No.
will form a sort of handbook on the OrnitholOgy
of the territories explored by the survey prepared
by DR.. Elliott COues the we'll known OrnithOlogst.
This work is now in the hands of the Public Printer
and will be ready for distribution by Spring. Prof
t. c. Porter of Lafayette College, and Mr.. j. NJ.
Coulter of the Survey are occupied in the prep
aration of handbook OF the flora OF
Colorado. which will form No. OF
this series. Other publications of this class
will follow from time to time, as the materials
can be prepared. The third class Of publications
will appear in quarto form, and will comprise the
more original and technicaresults of the Survey.
These will be printed in comparatively small edl-
tions, and distributed to libraries, colleges,
students, and men of science in this country and
in Europe VOL has just been issued from
the Government Printing Office the mechanical ex-
ecution of the work. both in regard to printing and
engraving will compare favorably with the same
class of publications issued by any Of the govern
ments of Europe. 1t prepared by Prof Joseph
Leidy, the distinguished comparative anatomlst
of Philadelphia 1t treats on the extinct verte-
brata fossil of our Western Territories, and may be
regarded of the most important contributions
to this department of pal9ontology ever made in
this country. Vol. H., on the remarkable extinct
reptiles and fishes of the cretaceOus beds of Kansas,
is nearly ready for the press. VOL ILL., on the fos
sill vertebrate of Wyoming Territory, and Vol w.,
on the singular extinct animals discovered during
the past Summer in the tertiary deposits of Colo
radO will appear in due time. These three volumes
will be prepared by Prof Cope, who has spent sew
h. rf.1 hon ha.o onfl
the West, under the auspices of the Survey.
VOL V. has already been issued, and forms one Of
the memoirs on the recent zoology of the Survey
1t was prepared by Prof Cyrus Thomas and is en-
titled Synopsis of the Acridid8 or GrasshOppers
of North America" of which 227 species are de-
scribed in this volume, and much interesting infor-
nation is given in regard to these pests, most
destructive to Western farms Vol. VI, with about
20 quarto plates is in process Of preparation by Dr.
S. Newberry State GeOlogst OF Ohio and Professor
of Geology in the School of Mines, Columbia College
New-York City Vol. VII. on the Cretaceous Flora |
of the West and VOL VIII the Tertiary Flora, will
be prepared by Prof Leo Lesquereux of Ohio. one of
the most eminent living students of fossil botany.
Vol TX. will be written by Mr.. +. b. Meek, the dis
tnguished paeOntolOglst of the survey, on Fossil
Invertebrata Over 600 new species of fossil shells
in various parts of the West will be de-
scribed and illustrated i'm this volume. 1t will
contain about 50 quarto plates and, it s believed
will not be surpassed in beauty or value by any sim
liar work ever published. Vol. will be written by
the Geoogist i'll Charge and will contain vast num-
ber of profles sections and other geological Illus
trations, with descriptive text. The materials for
large volume on the Ethnography and Philoogy of
the Indian tribes of the West are now in the office
Of the Survey awaiting leisure for elaboration. There
is also very large collection of negatives of the
Ia of tIa do hy,M
son. the official photographer of the Survey number
ing about 1900 Besides the scenery there are about
1 900 negatives of the principal Indians of the
West This is the largest collection of Photographic
negatives illustrating Indian life in the known
world and at no very distant day it will be of price,
less value. The above account should indicate that
no effort has been spared to make the Survey useful
TO science and the West. While all the publications
have been and will be of strictly scientific char
acter so that their fidelity to the truth may gain
them authority, they have proved OF great prac-
teal value in diffusng knowledge of the re-
sources of our great West all over the world, and
inviting the attention of capital and emigration to
our unoccupied public domain. AS an ed
ucatlonal enterprise, the Survey would appear
to have a certain claim to the consideration of
Congress Through reports and the newspaper press,
the knowledge of the interesting discoveries made
carried throughout the land and excites an interest
that cannot fail to give people large estimate
of the value and importance Of their country and |
its institutions. The duplicate specimens in all de-
are divided into sets and presented to the
principal museums of the country In one instance |
the Smithsonian Institution distributed &c sets OF
minerals and fossils to as many museums. In ac-
corance with an act of Congress- the typical series
of specimens in all departments are classified and
arranged in the National Museum. at Washington.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CORPS. |
Tho oroan,zation Of the corps has been grOwng