Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-04
THE UNDEVELOPED WEST.
Government Surveys.
Sketch of Office and Field Work by
Major .POWell's Branch.

Nearly one half of our territories with mines,
parairies and forests still invite the emigrant.
Though not the richer half, nor ever will be.
it is capable of supporting populous and
thriving states. With it's cataracts and canonS,
1t SurpasSeS the rest of the world in grand
natural curiOSitieS and wonders. Ancient
cities, mounds and races, allure the anti
quarlan. BY irrigation land of great fertility.
will repay with abundant products the labOrS
of the farmer, and will furnish food for those
more important perSonages in this country,
cient timber II protected, for the wants of all.
IMPORTANCE OF SURVEYS.
requisite for the rapid population of unde-
veloped sections OF county, is an accurate
knowledge of their climate, and geographical
features, their capacities and incapacities. 1t
is highly desirable that the surveyor should
precede the settler. The latter should not be
allowed to plunge into uncertainties. He
should be directed to the spots capable of culti-
WALTON without extensive capital for ifriga
tion, to regions whose geological formation
indicates the presence OF the precious metals
or to the best pasturage OF timber districts.
Within the last ten years the u s. govern
rectiOn. Previous to that time, there were
only scattered records of discoveries made by
military and civil parties who travelled
through the west,
THE SURVEYS PROPER
commenced with the labOrS of Clarence King.
Shortly afterwards came Major Powell, then
Lieutenant Wheeler and then DR.. Hayden
All of these gentlemen made private explOra-
tions before they engaged in the government
surveys. Within the period mentioned, one
third of the far west has been surveyed and
mapped. and at the same rate in twenty years
the entire work will be completed. During
Secretary Delanos administration this portion
of the United States was divided into districts
OF 2H degrees in longitude and IL degrees i'm
latitude for the purpose of facilitating its sur
vey, with view to the construction of ply
slcal atlas OF the whole region.
MAJOR POwELL's WORK.
Among those to whose labors the successful
completion of the proposed atlas will be large
ly due, is Major j. w. Powell, in charge of the
u. s. geographical and geological survey
Since 1869, when the Major made his remarka-
bic descent OF the Colorado river, he has been
exploring and surveying for the government.
Previous to that date, commencing in 1867, he
made explorations, assisted by the SmithSOn-
ian and various scientific societies. His opera
tions have been principally in Utah, but have
extended to parts of Arizona, Colorado and
New Mexico. An accurate and complete map
fOr over 5000 miles has been constructed and
considerable progress made in respect to $1,000
miles more.
AN HOUR OF GREAT INTEREST
may be spent at the Majors headquarters, i'm
this city, on G street, opposite the Interior de-
partment building. When the snow drives the
numbers OF the survey from the mountains,
they come TO Washington and are engaged in
office work until the snow has melted. Their
a6oIs ns1de in geo
has charge of the first department., and is as
sisted by Messrs. Renshawe, Graves and
the Of IN
the basis OF the topographic work, is of an i'm
proved pattern. In order to reduce the liabil-
ment. as many parts as possible have nav W been N
combined in one casting. The power of the
telescope has also been increased so as to be in
greater proportion than usual to the refine.
ment OF division in the graduated circle.
NEW INSTRUMENT FOR TOPOGRAPHIC WORK
The Orograph is new instrument adopted
to topographic work by Prof Thompson 1t
is so constructed that by moving the optical
axis of a telescope along the outline of land.
Scape, pencil below constructsa sketch Of the
same. AS the tracing is done mechanically, il
is exact; and on it mathematical comparisons
and estimates may be based. Both of these
instruments, manufactured by Edward Kiibel
OF this city, may be seen at the Washington
rooms roo 5 OF e the survey An improved plane table
consists OF a series of Stats fastened parallel to
one another on canvas, and capable of being
rolled into small compass for transportation;
but, when necessary, by means of cross pieces
and screws it may be converted into smooth
unyielding drawing board. Armed with these
extends his operations IL Single e eId seasop
over an area Of about five thousand square
miles, with all the accuracy necessary for the
region, the scale of which was fixed by the In
terror department at four miles to the inch. If
the surface of Belgium was partly mountain
OHs and cut in places by deep canon gorges it
could be surveyed and mapped at this rate in
a little over two seasons.
The assistants in
THE GEOLOGICAL WORK
are Mr.. &. X. Gilbert and Capt c. E. Dutton.
Of the army. Mr.. Gilbert, besides his ordinary
geological investigations in the season of 1877.
extended the classification of lands over All
The drainage basin of the Great Salt Lake that
lies in Utah. The maps prepared as the resnit
OF such labors are cOlored SO as to show what
land is capable OF irrigation and may be sold,
winch sections are marked by formations in
which precious metals may be found. which
are tne timber regions, and which are suitable
OILY ior grazing purposes. The general land
thn 4n,ee Is inns spared the expense OF surveying