New-York tribune., 1878-12-07
AMERICAN GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS.
HAYDEN's ATLAS OF COLORADO.

The following article written for the London
scentifcal periodical Nature, of September IL, by
Professor Archibald Geikie Director of the Geolog-
| ical Survey of Scotland, and Professor of Geology
| in the University of Edinburgh:
In the magnificent Atlas Just issued by the Depart
ment OF the Interior, have the cOnsummatOn and
crown all the lab"rs which DIR. Hayden and lis STAN
nave carried on so trumpbanty for the last five years
aud of which they have already given much inter
eSting and important Information Ia series Ot annual
reports. Before examining the work q scientific
point OF view, reader refrain from express mis-
admiration OF the style ID which the Atlas has been pro-
duced 10y the United states Government. As speci-
OF carOgraphy, Typography and lithograply, II s
altogether worthy uf the highest praise For beauty,
and indeed sumptuOusness OF execution. Il may be
casscd with those lvres de lrre which, TO
time, issued from the National lmDrmerie OF
The Atlas consists Of two series OF maps the OF
general the other OF detailed kind the hrst series,
ON the scale twelve miles 10 uch comprises four
sheets each embracing the whole State Of Colorado and
part OF the ncghborng territory The first Of these IL
survey the second Shows the drainage system Of the
area; the tGid by simple aud clear ARRANGEMENTS OF
COlOs, exhibits nc glance The economic features OF the
whole regoDthe Agricultural anU, pasturage, forests
and woodlands sage and bad lanes. mineral tracts, and
portions rising above the limit or tiubcrsrOwth;
the fourth contains condensed and generalized geOOg
lcal map OF the same territory. Nothing can surpass
the ucdiy VI expression and artistic n'sh OF these
Tue second seres-tweve in number-is on the scaleot
four miles inch, aud consists Of six typographical
sheets aud six cHl sneets,cOIOrcd geoUIcay The
Typographical details though numerous, le 80 selected
neuIaze each other or mar the D"uad, clear
picture which the maps were designed TO be- BY means
of OF 200 eet distance TIE surface
conf CUR don OF whole region Is depicted as IN
model. We follow the lines Of the broad valleys, OF
the deep marrow caons' and OF the hundreds ot minor
tributaries which have scaTped out their courses
either side. Here We look down upon vast tabe-and.
deeply tIcuched by streauchanDes; there upon sue
ccsson bold escarpments mesas which bound the
tuble-aud aud hem IN the neghDOrIng valley. Huge
mounaIu-Yaugcs rising OF the pateus ylvdy
that they seem to stand out Ol the paper 1et no
shading is employed All the effects OF Inequality are
single line muy tracked I'm its stnuOus course along
the whole OF a mountain front until It comes out upon
the tabcand bey Oud. Wnen Will our map makers learn
10 this the only true method for expressing the sur
face OF a country
In the previously publ shed maps and cnarts accom-
pauyng annual reports only small detached areas
tions OF the various geOlOgists OF the stat hardly
possible to frame satisfactory conception Of the geo
its deep gorges and vividy painted chhs were made
known, that region has possessed hgh Interest 70 the
geOogst. lie has the OF gratifying his desire
for further knowledge With the help OF these maps and
the accompanying sheets OF stcous ne can IeanIe
satisfactorily every great feature Of Colorado geo
Two sheets Of sections drawn across all the more in
teresng and important portions OF the geology, COM
pete the vast fund Of Information gwen Dy the maps,
while that nothing may Dc wanting 10 snaOe IeSdeIs b
conditions under which II nas been accomplished, two
large of sketches are give winch most yiyidy
represent the forms OF tue mountains, plateau mesas
and riycr2bannels, as seen from YalOus commanding
Dr. HAYDEN. with whose personal supervision this
great work has been ACCOMPLISHED has increased ten
fold the Obligations under which he has LAID geo
oglsts all the world Tor the number and
value OF his contributions to geology. lie now
furnishes us WITH new light whereby 10 read his
former researches and those Of his able colleagues.
we venture that he mud leisure 70 con-
fer yet one benefit before the progress OF his
survey plunges him INTO new wbirl OF WORK. IL no
could DC prevailed upon TO sketeh OUT pan lor ~
gesting the materials OF his published annual reperts,
he could doubtless find among his stan some eoinpetenE
writer who, under his guidance could produce WelF
arranged systematic guidebOOk or textbook TO COM
piets the ySne of the work OF his survey. sucn o
book OF reference would give reader who has
never had access the annual reports clear and
comDrehensive view OF Colorado geology would be Of
great service. These remarks may be hly closed with
An EXPRESSION warmes admiration for the liberal
spirit III VIII en- the United States Government has
Conducted these surveys OF the Territories, and has
published their results This costly Atlas has been ais
irbuted gratuitously all over Europe That TINS Is
wise polcy cannot be doubted. Whether actuated or
not 6y desire TO dlffse scientific information the
known as possible the geological and economic
resources OF country They their bread upon
the waters and the harvest TO them in the form
OF eager active emgrants from all parts OF Europe