Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-17
WORK OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Employees show Twenty Fold Increase in
Quarter Of Century.
SPENDS MILLION AND HALF IN YEAR
Scientific study of Land and water
Surfaces OF Country Furnishes
Much valuable InfOr-
nation.
Crrom a san correspondent.l


WASHINGTON. July 16.-(special. Flew
people fully realize the Importance OF the
United States geological survey in the de-
velopment OF the many natural resources
OF the country.
The number of persons permanently en-
ployed by the survey has increased dur
ing the last twenty-five years from thirty
nine to 40. The director is appointed by,
the president, all others are under the
civil service where the term of employment
exceeds ninety days
The first appropriation by congress for
the geological survey when It was estab-
lisbed in 1879 was $4,000. while the appro-
priation by the last congress for printing
and engraving alone amounted to 100000,
the total appropriation for this fiscal year
being q. 80. 40. one item OF $4,000 was APP
propriated for continuing the Investigations
Of the mineral resources Of Alaska.
object OF the survey.
The law of 1879 creating the geological
survey, defined the duties of the organiza-
ton as the classification OF the public
lands and examination of the geological
structure, mineral resources and products
of the national domain" For some time
thereafter the activities OF the survey were
confined TO tho public lands. but under the
direction Of congress the work Of the or
ganization was broadened to include a
general scientific study and exposition OF
the geology Of the whole country, until at
this time the economic Importance Of the
work done by the survey is almost beyond
imagination. y
The photographic branch OF the survey.
including the reclamation service, has
recorded the waterfowl of all the impor-
atr tfuh ha Of the
survey many heretofore unknown water
powers have been discovered. For in
stance, professional Paper No. 3D. treats
of the underground water resources OF
Nebraska and the great central plains. 1t
10 valuable and Interesting document
available to those who request It from
their senator's or congressmen.
1.-THE soil survey OF the Grand Island
district in Nebraska" Is also a valuable
document to those contemplating investing
in lands in that part of the state. 1t is
only a question OF time until all of Ne
braska, likewise all OF the country, will
be soil surveyed and mapped, when 1t will
be not only possible, but quite practical, to
learn from the public records, that are
accessible to all, the character Of the soil,
and for what use It is best adapted, Of
any quarter-section farm in Nebraska, or
elsewhere.
Benefits Mining Operations.
Geological maps are useful in many ways.
They show the areas within which coal,
iron and other important minerals occur,
the limits OF the artesan basins, the course
OF metalliferous veins and with the struc-
ture sections, which usually accompany
such maps. give valuable information in
dicating very precisely not only the locali-
ties, but the extent Of beds of commercial
Importance, and many OF the details and
conditions which influence the availability
of mining for profit. The examination OF
all mining districts is very thorough and
comprehensive. The structural conditions,
the age OF the rocks, the action and effects
-of descending and descending solutions and
gHSes.hi discussed practically and scien-
tfhcally The relation OF the rocks TO the
ore bodies il studied in detail. Samples of
the intrusive rocks, the gangue and min
erals are analysed and studied, chemically
and microscopically. for months in the
laboratories of the survey, before the final
conclusions are published. All important
scientific points )are considered by men
grown old in scientific research. men of
the survey, who are devoted to their chosen
profession. This care accounts for the high
standing of the published works Of the
survey among the scientific men OF the
world.