The Wilmingtonian., 1886-07-10
Major PowelI's 100000.


Personally he is most extraordinary
looking individual and what might be called
a character. He is one-armed and one-eyed,
about medium height and as 1.-the and why
as a cat. He has perhaps the most remarka-
BILE record of any man in this country for
hair-breadth escapes and personal adventure.
1t is claimed for him that he is the only
living man who has navigated the Colorado
River Canyon. This he did in an Indian
canoe. He is a remarkable explorer and is
as well informed as a Western trapper or
hunter upon the scantily known regions of
the territories.
1t is not claimed for him that he is tech
nically scientific or school-mau, but he is what
is mucl, more needed, of great personal exper-
ience d indefatigable energy in his chosen
work He thoroughly appreciates and un-
derstauds the value of science as handmaid
to the development and prosecution of exact
information in geological matters in explor-
alton and the development of the natural re-
sources of the country. His special exper-
erce is In the West.
And in this direction the bureau under his
charge has been of inestimable value to the
country.
I2,t t,a Mninr 10 euSnantad &c pnuy ha
coming reckless as regards expenditures, He
seems to think that the country cannot do
without MIN.
He told Congressional Committee that
'science spurns authority" In 1880, he got
$106, 900 for his bureau in 1888 the Majors
appropriation ran up to $258, 900; in 1884 to
$341, 900; in 1885, $5O4, 900; in 1886, 1926, OOO
and for the coming year he sends in an esti-
mate for 1858, 900!
The committee on appropriations reduced
the last estimate to 100000.
When this amount came before the House
an amendment was offered to reduce it by
$4,000.
Then the friends of the bureau arose to ex-
plain the necessity of continuing the large
expenditure. It's opponents also talked, and
very much to the point.
Representative Herbert, of Alabama quo
ted letters showing that Major Powell had
departed altogether from the original scope
of his province and duties in many of the ex-
penditures he had made. Expensive works
on paleontology, on bivalves, upon extinct
birds &C., were paid for by this bureau.
These works contained most expensive maps
and illustrations.
1t was contended that these items did not
properly come under the head of geology.
A letter from Professor Agassiz of Cam
bridge, was quoted saying There is no end
to that kind Of interesting documents which
the heads of bureaus could get printed at
Government expense, and which very few in
dividuals or societies would print, even had
they the means at their command. The
methods of publication adopted by the var
ious bureaus, the mode of distribution, the
size of the editions, are wasteful and extrav-
agant. Edititions running into the thou.
sands and tens of thousands are often pub
| lished, and there are not five hupdred people
Or institutions whom they will do any good,
| OF to whom such pure scientific publications
can be of any service.
AS regards the paleontology: That is just
one of the things which private individuals
and learned societies can do just as we'll as
| Government, They will do it cheaper.
| plenty of people who will be too thankful to
| do such work for the sake of doing it, and
who will manage to get the gist of their re-
suits published by scientific societies to which
they belong.
| Private individuals have learned nothing
from the works you refer to, and the scope
of the investigation on mining industries Of
Comstock, Eureka, and Leadvile are all
such as seem to me to fall within the limits
of individual investigation. 1t will always
be possible for specialists to write such mem.
oirs, and if they are properly qualified they
will find no difficulty in having access to all
the information obtained by Government
officials Of the Geological Survey. There is
no more reason why the Government should
publish history of the mining enterprises
of the country then that they should publish
history of manufacturing processes Al
that is the province Of private historians.
In fact, do not see why men Of scienet
should ask more than other branches O
knowledge, literature, fine arts, &C.. beyouC
the limitations had suggested of Govern
ment assistance.
The above refers specially to voluminoul
reports of the Comstock, Eureka and Lead
vile iues. These as Professor Agass
says are the mining enterprises of the count
ry and Government is no more called upoi
to write treatises upon them than upon ou
manufacturing processes.