Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-23

| One of the most important investi-
cations under the Geological Survey Is
that of the water resources of the
country. The daily flow of streams
has been gagged at over 1900 points
| throughout the United States for a
period of years and from these records
the public can gain the most authorita-
tive information available regarding
the average flow of these rivers. Dur
ing the past year $50 gaging stations
were maintained
| Still another line of activity In
scientific investigation by the Geolo-
gical Survey is it's technologic work
The testing of the fuels and structural
materials of which the Government it.
| self Is so large a consumer has in
augurated Investigations which have
already yielded results Of the greatest
value to the public
Publicity of results is secured by the
preparation, publication and distribu-
ton of the reports of the various in
vestigations, geologic. geographic.
photographic, and technologic, by the
engraving and printing of the maps
representing the surveys, and by the
| distribution of news bulletins issued
weekly for use by the newspapers of
the country. This news service de-
serves a further word inasmuch as 1t
represents the Surveys point of di-
rect contact with the most efficient
agency of publicity, the newspaper.
| Advance notices of Survey publica-
tons, summaries of reports of special
interest, preliminary statements of the
| statistics of mineral production, and
news items regarding work in
progress in the different branches of
| the Survey constitute the subject mat
| ter of these press bulletins. Their
! purpose is to acquaint the public with
the activities of the bureau and to adj
vertise the reports as issued, that the
public may secure promptly the results
of the work supported by public money.
| In the publication branch of the
Survey, there were issued in the fiscal
year just closed: 1877 books. comprising
over 10000 pages. 9 geologic folios. 81
new topographic maps, 127 reprints of
maps. and Is special maps-a separate
publication for every day of the year.
with a grand total of copies issued of
over 100000 The total distribution of
| these publications was nearly $4,000
| copies
After this review of the different
phases Of the work of the United
States Geological Survey it may be ap-
propriate to speak of the policy gov
erning this branch of the public SER
vice. l have said that the Survey had
its origin in an appreciation of the i'm
| portance to the nation of its mineral
resources In 1879 the treasure house
h,r nnnnn6
! the value Of last years mineral output
| was approximately six times That oil
the product of 1880.
| This phenomenal growth of the
mineral industry during the life of the
| Survey has emphasized the industrial
| dependence of the country upon it's
mineral wealth. and the present year
| has been a nation awakening to d
realization of it's future needs. Thus
| it is that the Surveys duty to the
people has caused it's role to change IN
| these 30 years from that of the pro-
moter of the development of the min
eral industry to that of the .conserver
| of these sources of wealth. The ma
| tior, under the lead of President
Roosevelt, has begun to take thought
of the morrow, and it has turned to its
scientific bureaus for authoritative in
formation.
The problem before the American
people today is the extension of the
life of its natural resources 1t is
fortunate that the explorations and in
yestigations Of the Geological Survey
not only have contributed to the de-
velopmcnt of these resources but also
have furnished cumulative data that
are available at this time of popular
awakening to the needs of national
conservation. The practical value OF
the Surveys scientific work has thus
won popular recognition and apprecia-
ton, so that the bureau can realize
more fully it's purpose of promoting
the economic development of the coun-
try along proper lines.
Conservation as applied to mineral
resources means the meeting of pres
ent day needs with an eye open to the
requirements of the morrow. To THIS
end, an inventory of the countrys
present supply of the essential ma
terials is the first step and for period
of wears the Survey has been engaged
ir. stock taking. The Survey geologist
has measured the coal and iron re-
serves, the Survey photographer has
ga scd the streams of the country. de-
termining their flow and calculating
the available power. the Survey
topograrher has explored and mapped
the little known areas. furnishing us
with reliable data from which may be
determined the feasibility of reclama-
ton by irrigation or by drainage. and
the Survey statisticans have deter
mined and recorded the increasing
rate of production and consumption of
mineral products. With this IN
formation already at hand. the great
est incentive to economy is provided.
The phenomenal industrial growth OF
the past few years cannot continue
without endangering the future unless
full methods are stopped.
The campaign of conservation must
be one of education. In this educa-
tional service. the Geological Survey
like the other scientific bureaus long
since enlisted It's policy has been to
better economic conditions by the in
vestigation Of the nations natural re-
sources. Through such investiga-
tions by the Geological Survey the
FORGOT Service and the Reclamation