The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-21

I make q Geoluglcnl survey % AAe Net'NtN
region Of lake Superior.
DR.. jackson was succeeded Ia M
Lake Superior survey by j. W Foster
aud J. ID. Whitney, whose report VA
published ia lSjL DR.. ID. ID. Owen
United States geologist. reported On th'
geology Of parts OF Iowa, Wisconsin ane
[ Illinois in 1889 He also made a report
Of geological survey Of Wisconsin
Iowa and Minnesota and portions OF
Nebraska aud Missouri in 1852
Cap. John Mullan made survey to'
wagon road FROM Walla Walla to Forl
Benton. 1863
Reports OF routes from San Antonio
20 FL Paso 10y Col J. +. johnson and
others.
Tho Pacific railroad reports contain
many excellent geological surveys OF
the region traversed by those exploring
expeditions.
Capt. Howard Stansburys report OF
the survey OF Great Salt Lake.
Maj. VIM. II. Emory's report on Mexi-
can Boundary Survey, 1859
Maj. S. H. Longs report on the coun-
try between ST. Peters river and Lske
Winnipeg, 1925.
Capt John c. Fremonts explorations
in the Rocky mountains, 1884.
Capt Randolph b. Marcy's explora-
lions Of the Red river Of Louisiana,
1921.
Maj. VIM. II. Emery's report OF the
survey OF the country between Fort
LeavenWorth and San Diego, lsis.
An Of these reports contain most val
liable information Of the country ex-
plored
Besides these surveys by the United
States. nearly all OF tho states have
made geological surveys more or less
complete and several OF them have pub
lished reports OF such excellence they
will always be standard authorities in
geology and palWontology.
Originally the object Of the United
States survey Was an examination Of the
public domain in the territories Of the
west But the larger part Of these ter
ritories have become states and the wide
field Of the work would have been
greatly contracted had net the survey
extended its broad scientific mantle over
all the states in return for this encroach-
mont OF the states on it's territories.
This survey has now been in exist
ence forty years, and, according to the
report just made, the surveys have been
carried on in forty seven states and ter
ritories and over an area OF $4,000
square miles. During the last year the
survey has been carried on in twenty
one states and territories, covering 20
coo square miles. AT this rate Of pro-
gross it will take about one hundred
years to complete the work.
One would ask what call had Uncle
sam to extend bis geological work over
New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsyl-
vania. when these states have better gs-
illogical reports than Uncle Sam has OF
any Of his territoriesg Why go into
Missouri and Texas, when those states
have as good men at work on their state
surveys as Mr.. Powell can send them?
We may be blind, but We can not see
the wisdom Of sending these men into
the old states already surveyed, while
we in the northwest so much need this
work. We believe it would have done
the country more good to have added
the 10000 square miles surveyed in
Missouri to the 1900 in Montana. for
Missouri has had geological surveys
from time to time for forty years, aud
every body knows her whole geology.
While the United States geological sur
Vey has been at work In Montana of
and on for forty years it has COM
pleted l4,400 square miles, OF one-tenth
OF the state. To complete our survey
then at this rate, would take 400 years
This is where the figures o: the re-
port lead US. We hope there is some
mistake and that at least our children's
children may have the benefits OF this
survey. We have been paying for it for
forty years aud some OF US had hoped to
see the benefits OF il 10 our day.
The photographic survey, under Mr..
Powell, promises more immediate beue-
its ia MD Of irrigation. But at the rate
OF progress thus far made It will take
many years to complete ne work. The
arid regions need a. so surveys now
more than they ever will in tho future,
and the old states, which have had good
surveys, might wait few years without
much detrment.
II, however, congress insists on hGv-
ing the work continued in the older
states, more money should be appropri-
ated TO the work, 30 Mr. Powell can soon
complete the irrigation survey OF the
arid regions.