The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-04
SURVEY OF THE STATE
Bailey Willis Tells of the Work
He Has i'm Charge.
HOW THE LAND WAS FORMED.
Value Of the Geological Survey-A De-
scription of the Sonnd ana Its
Prehistoric Changes.

Bailey Willis. superintendent for the
state Of Washington of the United States
geological survey, made an interesting and
instructive address last night in the rooms
Of the Chamber OF Commerce on the Or
ganization, work and progress OF the sur
vey in the ITniouy/Erd in Washington par
ticulariy There were as many people out
10 hear him as the room would accommo-
date. and they listened attentively for an
hour and half while Mr.. Willis talked in
graceful conversational way of his work.
The speaker was introduced by Presi-
dent L. o. Graves, OF the Chamber OF Com
msrce. lie explained first the organization
OF the survey. comprising two branches
the typographical survey and the geolog-
teal survey. each aiding the other. The
topographic party does its work first, TAX
ing an accurate map OF the surface, de-
lineating plains, hills. railroads. roads,
towns, political boundaries. etc. Provided
with this map the topographer goes INTO
the district to measure and to sketch the
topographic features. He carries out
secondary triangulation. determining the
meanders OF all roads, trails and streams.
He also makes constant observations or
the elevation above the sea, and makes
sketches Of the forms and slopes Of val
leys and hills that can be Enthusiastically
represented on the map. The topographer
is not only surveyor, he must be an ar
list trained 10 represent on maps the
forms Of the landscape. BY means Of the
topographic map a stranger may traverse
the country without losing his way; the
land owner may Indicate the locality. the
relation TO roads and water courses, and
the form and slope OF his land When this
topographic map is drawn Il is engraved
and printed. and copies can be had by the
public.
Mr.. Willis then sketched an outline of
geologic history. History. rarely has a
T1fn heof ire sr,< hac
Back of the most ancient Of human his
tories lies period of tradition, and behind
the most remote geologic epochs extends
an unending series of events. In this re-
gioH We come to records that are not yet
deciphered. These are the Oldest rocks of
the Cascades, such as the iron-bearing
schists Of the Skagit district and the gran
ties Of the northern portion Of the range.
The first geologic event Of the Puget sound
region of which there is any, definite knowl-
edge Is a subsistence of the earth's crust
by which areas of these rocks that had
been land sank beneath the waters of a
shallow. fresh water estuary. The estuary
extended over the Sound basin and over
much of the space where the Cascade and
Olympic mountains stand In later epochs
the mountains grew where the shallow
waters then extended. This fresh water
sound endured a long time 1t received
rivers from surrounding lands. and they
mud which were spread in horizontal beds.
The filling went on faster than the subs:d-
ence, and where the water became very
shallow a marsh was developed. Here
rank vegetation grew, and the conditions
again changing. the vegetable accumula-
ton was buried beneath other deposits of
sand or mud. The sandy beds hardened
TO sandstone. the muddy beds became clay,
and the plant beds became coal. Thus were
formed the coal-bearing measures, which
are among the most important OF the re-
sources OF Puget sound.
These coal-bearing strata formed in
nearly horizontal position. but were after
wards warped into troughs and arches.
The troughs probably remained water
basins or straits, while the arches became
islands or peninsulas which were contn-
ually eroded by the sea. The total thick
ness of coal-5earing strata thus formed is
certainly 5000 feet. and it may exceed L. 600
feet
The Olympic and Cascade mountains were
then probably low ranges. but they gradual
~ uplifted. and volcanic action followed.
producing the peaks. Then came the Gla-
cal epoch. during which the mountains
were sneathed in fee, which formed the
valleys and the amphithe2ters ut their
heads and deposited the clly. sand and
gravel in the lowlsnds. Compared VITA
these glaciers those of present times ere
pigmes. Then came a change Of climate,
the arnnor or cTNStdl nlei-et vegetation
crept upward over the surface abandoned
by the ;ce. the forest grew mi 'ne face Of
the land took on its present aspect.
At tho rate Of progress possible with the
p.esent ailo',T tnt OF $1,000 a year. 3; Will
require ffty ars 10 coraple'e the maps
Of this sta,e Can the state afford to wait
so long for adequate maps? Can she not
better afi lrd 20 cooperate in the work. as
other states lave done, TO hasten its COM
pleton?
At the bWInC IS meeting OF The cta'a &C.,
the following new membc-s were elected:
a. \. Seagrl,e. w. T. Scott, q ". Price,
T. A Steele b e Ball