The Somerset reporter., 1908-09-24
The Relation of the United States
Geological Survey to the Public.

The Relation OF the united States
Geological Survey to the Public.
A Synopsis of the Address Delivered Be
fore the State Board of Trade at Angus
ia, Last Tuesday Evening, by Dr.. George
/ o. Smith, Director of the U. S. Geologi
cal Survey.
To serve the people is the purpose
of every Government department and
! bureau. AS part of the public SER
vice the Geological Survey has func-
tions prescribed by law. In the or
ganic act establishing this bureau 2e
years ago it is specified that the new
bureau is charged with the classified
ton of the public lands and the ex-
animation of the geologic structure,
mineral resources and products of the
national domain. Thus did Congress
express its recognition of the practi-
cal relationship existing between ge-
| ology and the mineral industry as
we'll as its appreciation of the fact
that these mineral resources consti-
tute the nations material wealth.
The Survey thus became a pioneer
agency in the development of the
country.
The extent Of the operations of the
Survey depends upon the size of the
annual appropriations in its behalf.
Congress has gradually increased
these from 500, 900 to over one and q
half million, so that the Geological
Survey has become better equipped
to occupy the large field of public
service to which it was given title
in 1879. Its activities are all directed
toward the public benefit but are SO
varied as to deserve a simple classifi-
cation for purposes of description.
The exploration work of the Survey
includes the discovery and mapping
of the previously unknown; the in
vestigations by the survey have as
their purpose the determination of
the value of all the new data collected
by the fieldmen; and the publication
side of the work involves the making
known to the world the results OF
these explorations and Investigations.
AS I speak of the explorations of
the Survey, must mention first the
twenty FIVE to thirty thousand square
miles of territory that is mapped
each year by the Survey topogra-
pliers. Exploration is the correct
term, for our topographic surveys
bring out new discoveries even in
portions of the United States long
settled. For example, the highest
points in such old states as Ohio and
/ Pennsylvania have been determined
only recently in the course of the
| field surveys of these areas by our
topographers.
The detailed maps that are being
thus made of the country already
number 100 sheets, which together
cover one third of the area of the
United States. These maps consti-
tute the another map of the country
in that they are based upon actual
surveys, so that the other maps with
which the public is familiar, whether
published in geography, atlas, or as q
folded state or country map are to q
large extent based upon the. United
States Geological Survey maps.
These topographic maps are utilized
not only by the map makers who sell
their publications, but by the Govern
ment photographers. for example, In
making the Post Route maps of the
Post Office Department, or as bases
for the military maps prepared by the
General Staff, the War College and
the Service Schools of the War De-
partment. While we know the ex-
tent to which the maps are put to q
federal use, we can only estimate
how largely they are utilized by the
engineer in private practice in the
great industrial enterprises of the
day. These maps now possess a de-
gree of accuracy which fits them &c
serve the general purposes of pre-
liminary surveys, so that the engi-
neer can use them for the location OF
railroads. canals, highways, trolley
lines, or in connection with planning
water supply, sewerage, drainage OF
irrigation systems.
Geologic mapping by the Survey
biologists is another branch of ex-
ploration work, in which not only Ii
the surface distribution of the rocks
and soils observed and mapped but
also the subjacent formations are
studied to the end that the published
maps may furnish the prospecJor, the
mine operator, or the driller for oil
gas, or water with reliable informa-
at hundreds and thousands of feet be
I
maps covering thousands of square
miles are issued each year and the is
sue of such a map of mining district
is eagerly awaited by the mining en-
gineers and mine owners.
The investigation work of the sur
vey is closely connected with the ex
plorations by the field-men The
data collected must be studied
whether these are geologic, geogra
phic, photographic or technologic
that is, whether they concern, for in
stance, ore deposits, mountain passes
water falls, or smoke abatement
Many are the lines of investigation
and each in its final analysis is fount
to be utilitarian. The scientific stud,
of ore deposits by the United State,
Geological Survey has yielded The
most practical results and the value
of these contributions has won worlc
wide recognition. The geologist ha,
taught the miner both where ant
where not to look for ore.
One of the most important investi
cations under the Geological Survey
is of the water resources of the coun
try. The daily flow of streams hal
been gagged at over 1900 points
throughout the United States for ;
period of years and from these rec
ords the public can gain the most au
thoritative information available re
garding the average flow of these
rivers. During the past year $50 gag
ing stations were maintained. No
are the inquiries into the water re
sources of the country confined to the
quantity of stream flow, for the quail