New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-09
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
ANSWERS TO CHARGES AFFECTING IT.
PROFESSOR POWELL DENIES CATEGoRlCALLi AL
TILE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM.

PROFESSOR POWELL DENIES CAVEGohicAi'Ni ~
THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM.
WASHINGTON, Nov. s.-SecretarY Lamar mas
received from Professor j. W. Powell Director u JUG
Geological Survey, letter. OF which INC loi'o"i"s '
tho most important portions
Various charges affecting discredtebly the auiiini'
tration OF tho Geological Survey have been curren. ~
tho newspapers OF the country for the past -FOUR
and deem It my duty to call your attention 10 INC SOM
and to append brief statements to them seVer"ii' '
you may see how baseless aud absurd they appear Ill
the presence OF the truth.
It charged that the survey has been extended n'
the portion Of the United states ID Vioao -
law The law specifically provides that the survey sha'
extend over the United States and the law was
passed after repeated and lengthy debate In Congress ny
an overwhelming majority.
It's charged that the Geological Survey duplicating
tho work Of Coast Survey and Of state geolcgica
surveys There truth color of truth n the state
mcnt. .
It's charged that a corrupt conspiracy existed IN the
National Academy Of Sciences to break down the ola or
eanization for geographical and geological surveys III
order TO create the new the National Academy IT,
self had little TO do with this but that the conspiracy
was tho work OF n corrupt committee. The Natlohai
Academy OF Sciences is body Of scientific mon organ
tied under an act of Congress be the scientific
Of the Government and is compelled by law to MAKE III
vesgatios aud reports such subjects as may DC SUD
utted TO It by Congress or by the President oil inc
United states by the heads OF departments In al a'
OF Congress approved June 90 1873 the National Acau
envy was required to report to Congress Il pa"
for making a Topographic and geologic survey
Such plan was reported and tho present EeoIoSlcai
survey exists in pursuance of that pan under specnc
statutes passed by Congress. The committee OF tue
Academy that considered the subject was composed OF
Professor O. c. Marsh, then acting president OF inc
Academy; James d. Dana, Of Yale College william b.
Rogers :oraor,y state Gcoogst Of Pennsylvania ana
virginia and late President of the Institute OF Techno
ogy Boston; Professor j. = NewDerIy Vn Co'T,' ~
College and formerly state GeoioSlst OF ONO v" +.
Trowbridge. OF Columbia College Simon NcWcoh inc
astronomer i'm Washington, and Alexander Aga-sH' OF
Harvard University These are all llusFlOUs mon III
American history, all reyered by the people, ana
because OF their contributions to science they VIII Do
honored as long as the mis,OIy VI h''raIon , ~
by the committee 20 meeting ., hor, v
Academy called Tor the Pnrp2se ~ % nearing
and adopted unanimously.
II is charged that the scientific Of the National
Academy OF Sciences in wicked collision with Major
Powell proposed to wipe ont the lines which now TX
the limits all lands sold from the public domain OF the
entire country and Introduce new system There l.
no truth and no color Of truth in the statements lis
falsity Is equaled only by It's absnrli'y ..,
It is charged that Major Powell was elected member
Of the National Academy OF sciences by corupty us
tributing patronage TO ITS members MAJOR PsWeil was
elected 10 membership I'm the Academy prior 10 his ap
pontnent as Director of the United states Geological
survey and at time when he had no patronage uhler
his control be used with the members VI the National
It is charged that tho publication OF the Geo
% SSfa' and iO'' PacEaris "Roport on Goometred
Moths ," Is given ~ an Illustration :;
ana It's stated that nearly all the publications OF the
survey Of the same class TINS WORK Of Dr; PACK,
ards was not published by tho United states Geological
Survey hut by what known as the Hayden survey
wears ago The law prohibits tho publication OF
general works natural history by me survey, anu
confines tho publication TO works gerlnanc 70 geology
iris Charged that major Powell mas fondness for
state GcoOcists. Now, II Powell can give State
Gcoogst 81 900 year. he does IN several cases tie
ccoogist ia 80 much better off, No state gcologis has
ever received OF salary from the United states
Geological survey. In connection Win the ABOVE
charge the names OF all the biologists and assistant
with their salaries, and the statements made IN such
manner make 10 appear that they are an state
geoogst when In fact not ono OF them 10 employed by
"A state.
n il charged that Captain Clarence L. Dutton, OF the
Ordnance Corps, receives his salary rs Captain IN the
Army and also a salary gco!ogst IN the Geological
C,rinin Button receives his salary Captain in the
Army hut does receive salary rs gcolOSst; and
d., let ID qn officer ia the Geologic4i survey j. mace
detail has extended by the present Secretary o.
is CHARGED that collections OF fossils which cost IN
instance 100000, ana IN another rivOVlV h-t0au
o: hciu dcposcd IN the National Museum, have been
diverted g. ilc private museums OF Professor NUsh Of
Yale COLLEGE. an! Prof s,or Cope, of IniiIelplI The
Geological survey hd- fossil, IN the hands Of Professor
oil Professor Ncqyb .rry. of Nrwl ork; Professor Fou-
tairp 81 the University Virginia. Professor Lelty,
Philadelphia, aud various other persons throughout
the United states. Tho collections Of the Geological
survey are sent specialist, for their animation ana
f'lc statute Organizing the Geological survey con-
template. this Dry providing that whom the specialists
have ui. shed their work o1 the collections they -ht
thou Ice deposited iu thr Natona. Museum.
charged that $4,000 WIS paid oul Tor salaries
of thc amount appt 'pr.Itcd for tot purpose
las ycor There is 10 tru'A or color OF truth IN the