New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-22
GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS.
Agreement Bet7ceen Z. S. GoUern-
ment and States as to Work..


Washington May Representatives of the geo
logical surveys of twenty-five states and of the
United States Geological Survey have been in con-
ference here for two days. An agreement was
reached under which the federal survey will in
the future accent as authoritative work already
done by the state surveys. and whereby through
a comparison of plans at the beginning of each
year the two bodies will avoid undertaking the
same enterprise at the same time. when one would
he competent to handle it. A previous meeting waS
called by former Director Walcott. OF the United
States Geological Survey, and was held in New
York The present meeting was called by MS sue
cessor, Director Otis Smith.
The feature of the meeting declaration OF
states rights by men who represented the various
commemorative, led by John NJ Clarke. Of New
York The state biologists maintained that lhey
were not receiving from the federal survey the
recognition TO which they were entitled Ihat sur
vey. they said. entering the various sovereign
states and doing work that previously had been
done exhaustivey by the local survey. 1t was not
only duplicating work already done, but was re-
hecting upon the character of that work It was
also they said making these surveys unlimited.
often conflicting in actual field operation with state
survey parties doing the same work
DR. Clarke was firm i'm asserting that the sur
vevs made by his state were as trustworthy as any
that could be made by the federal government and
should be accepted without question by tlat gov
eminent He cited the fact that New York was
the narent Of geological surveys. hers being the
oldest in the country having existed for seventy
one years and having graduated many of the great
est biologists IN the national service. notably MT
WaIcott. The New York State office. lie said, had
exhaustive information the topography Of the
state which It would take the national govern
ment many years Of diligent work to acquire. He
urged that these facts be recognized and that the
states surveys be accepted by the national govern
ment The State of New York was in a position.
he added where she did not need the assistance Of
veys
The positions OF many of the other states were
similar, in that they demanded recognition of their
local bodies and consultation about work to be
undertaken within their confines In few of them.
however, has the survey developed as in New York,
and few without the need of federal assist
ance. In many there problems of Interstate
Importance Practically all, however, had griev-
unces over a lack Of recognition OF work done. and
The agreement drafted provides that at the be
ginning of each year the states shall submit the
federal authorities plan OF all the work contem-
plated for the year and that at the same time the
plan of the work contemplated within its confines
thus preventing duplication. An understanding
state reolngtsfs S to- The SUI WIN Inc
II should be accepted, and that additional surveys
that would reflect the state surveys should not
be made Director Smith pledged the federal sur
vey 10 this line of conduct. and the victory for
states rights was complete
IT is IS recognition to which We were entitled"
SAID br Clarke OF New York after the meeting
sisted upon their rights for a long time and tie
stand taken was firm and uncompromisnR. The
federal government will not interfere I'm the fut-
urc. particularly with New York. The departments
at Washington prone TO believe that they are
the great father. but there many of US haC k
In the country who not friendly to the present
day tendency toward a Capitalization of power at
the nations capital.
Another matter that particularly interests me-
Is that OF the state and federal reports upon geo
logical products. such coal and minerals. New
York issues report which is IN the hands OF th.
pubic some SIX months after the close Of the
fiscal year Eighteen months later the federal gov
eminent issues report upon the same subject
that Is IN every way similar. II is a matter of du-
plicaton through absence OF the proper rec
ogntion Of the states. and might well be avoided
There are many other instances of the same class
of work the of the national government that
might he avoided by consultation with the state
authorities operating along a similar line"