Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-29
The Government Survey COntro.
VcrSys
INTERESTING OFFICIAL REPORTS.


The Academy OF Sciences, TO whom the mat
ter was referred by Congress, will recomme ead
as has been heretofore stated In The STAR, the
consolidation Of the different government sur
veys, under the Coast Survey, all to b. under
the control Of the Secretary of the Interior.
The surveys made by the General Land Office
II is proposed to discontinue. In view OF these
facts, the answers OF the Secretaries OF War
and Interior to the House resolution of March
last, inquir1ng into the cost and results OF the
public surveys in the west, other than those OF
the Land Office, carried on by the government
du1lng the past ten years. have special inter-
est II appears from these answers that there
are now three geographical and geological sur
VeyS In progress. One under the engineer bu-
reau OF the War department., in immediate
charge of Lieut.. Geo. NJ. Wheeler. of the corps
of engineers, and two under the Interior de-
par rtment, placed by law in charge respect
ively OF F. v: Hayden and J. W. Powell
The first is known as the ~: $. Geographical
two are more particularly for geological pur-
poses; the Hayden one being a survey of the
territories, and the Powell survey of the Rocky
Mountain region. The War department SURVEYS
are in the direction of a systematic, thorough
and economic prosecution. by means OF aStron-
omical, geodetic, typographical and meteorolo-
g1cai observations of surveys in their connect
ed areas west of the Tooth meridian. according
10 plan submitted by Lieut. Geo. VI. Wheeler
in 1s'2; then approved by General Humphreys
and the Honorable Secretary OF War, and
adopted by Congress in that year. These sur
VeYS are in further prosecution of the Pacific
anu SttSTdpUltdi surveys west OF the
Mississippi river, commenced by the corps OF
engineers and suspended during the war.
Inc resulting Typographical map and other
practical information concerning the routes
present and prospective, OF travel through
these regions are the main objects and require
meniS OF tie War department., While there have
not been omitted the important and interesting
observations made by scientific experts in the
branches OF nlneral0gy, mining, geology. pa
loOntOlogy. zoology, archaeology, CthGOlOyy. &c
The geological surveys under the Interior de
M or own .flsr
their results have OF late years carried on topo-
graphical work. and have used Typographical
sheets as tie basis Of their geological map where
tie geology OF the country has been sufficiently
1mI oltant 10 warrant graphic illustration
Tie geographical survey OF the War depart
ment includes in its Held OF operations an area
OF l.f33,3Go square miles, that OF the territories
OF the United States including Colorado. "a ter
rltoly In 1917 embraces an areas of l.oi ,963.
while tie exact boundaries OF the Rocky Noun
tain regions are not defined.
As shown by this report TO Congress the geo.
graphical survey west of the Tooth meridian
under the War department. has already covered
an area OF 3320l5 square miles. OF which 244 900
square miles have been mapped at a total ex-
pense during the past ten years of Sia9 1851, or
sl.4e per square mile. The time required to
cover this entire area. at present rate of pro-
greSS, would be % years.
The geological survey of the territories claim
10 nave covered, during the same interval.
100000 square miles, at an expense OF sal 00l Is
or 1919 per square mile. The time required at
the average rate Of progress to complete the
area OF the territories alone would be 942 years
The geological surveys of the Rocky noun
tain region claim to have covered during this
same period an area Of 1896 square miles of
completed work. and of imperfect reconnos-
sance 2l,1iS square miles, at a cost Of S225 1875.
or S3. per square mile for completed work
The time required to complete the area west of
tie 1CCth meridian. at the average rate OF pro-
gTeSS OF this survey, would be 1876 years.
The geological exploration Of the 10Th parallel
(king) closed its fed laborS in 1872 No eStt-
mates OF amounts for its continuance are now
being made TO Congress. EX. Doc Ss states
that the reconnaissance, scouts &c. from mill
tary divisions and departments have covered
4n.tOo square mites, and measured along
routes Of travel and march 115O0o linear
miles. The number OF the parties Or years in
Which each has operated. or expense incurred
is rot given. Hence it Will appear that at the
END OF the respective eIaS above giyea there is
promised from the War department a complete
map, based unOn gC0detic methods, of the entire
area. with as mulch geological ard allied infOr-
nation as is needed in advance of the settle
ment of this region: and b. the interior depart
ment the completed geology of this compara-
lively undeveiopcd region, with such Topographic
cal information as is required for geological
illustration.
The subject of the continuation of the Dhvsi-
cal surveys OF the western mountain region will
receive attention at the hands OF Congress in
connection with the appropriations for the
coming year.