Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-13

NM geological survey is to the
INNER, the manufacturer, the
builder, the railroader, the
irrigationist, the drainer of swamp
lands. the digger of deep waterways.
In short, to everybody who has oc-
casion to know anything about topog-
raphy. geology, mineral and water
resources, structural materials. and
waste utilization. 1t is a sort of John
the Baptist IN the wilderness of undevel.
oped resources. preparing the way for
those who would most effectively utilize
these vast resources and laying the foun-
dations for future engineering, construe-
ton and conservation work. It Is a sort
OF watchdog over the natural wealth Of
the nation. In this capacity II stands
guardian over millions Of dollars Of nat
ural wealth where the watchdog of the
Treasury stands guardian over thousands
of dollars Of actual gold and silver.
One Of the most interesting OF the activ-
tiles Of the survey Is the making of
a great geologic map OF the United
States. This map Is so exhaustive and re-
quires such close investigation that work
thirty years. and yet 1t covers only a
comparatively small portion Of the United
States. 1t Is q map which in large part
IS being made on the scales OF one and
two miles to the inch. Such a map on a
scale Of one mile to the inch would re-
quire sheet Of paper about 240 by 1870
feet-practically half city block in area.
OF course. IT will be impossible to make
SUCH map on one plate, 90 1t 10 being
made piece by piece. and the individual
sheets are bound together, with descrip-
tive text accompanying them.
The first essential in the making Of this
map Is q topographic survey and map Of
the land to be geoloeically plated. This
Topographic map. which is also in sections
to correspond with the geologic map, Is
made by another branch Of the geol~ gical
survey. The topographic map sheets are
IN themselves peerless results Of geo.
graphic surveying. They show every
physical characteristic Of OF the surface
hill, valley, slope, stream, swamp and al.
the works OF man are exactly portrayed;
indeed, a clever model maker may take
one In hand and by it construct a nlinia-
ture model Of the area shown on the map.
Over one-third OF the United States has
been thus mapped. Aside from its use
as q base for geologic work, the topO-
graphic map has come to have a high
intrinsic value as q base map for al
engineering work.
the geologist must determine the charac-
ter and distribution Of the individual
rough masses and their relation to one
another. He must travel over the whole
area and plat all the outcrops and lodges
Ut rock. The dips OF the rocks must be
measured In order to determine the
amount of reformation they have under
,one. and other most particular studies
must be made.
A knowledge of fossil remains OF plants.
birds, animals and fishes IL often Of
great assistance to the geologist in To-
eating various mineral deposits. For IN
lance, there is particular fossil mol
lusk which Is OF the same geologic age
as certain coal deposits. When the geolo-
zist discovers one OF these he knows that
coal may be not far distant These foe-
siis are UTILIZED rs keys to translate the Sc
crets below the surface OF the ground.
When this great geologic map Is com.
pleted 1t will constitute a most remark
able exposition OF the mineral resources
Of the United States. Each section Of the
map reveals infinitely the minera. re-
sources. the geologic formation the char
acter OF the soil, the underground water
and a hundred other things which are OF
immeasurabie value to the people OF the
United States The topographic map
upon which the one dealing W tn the geo
logic formations Of the country is based
is being projected on a scale Of q mile to
the inch In the more thickly settled re-
sions Of the United States; approximately
two miles to the inch in other sect onS
and. In most cases. four miles to the inch
In Alaska. A surveying party is alb e to
cover a maximum of 500 square miles In
a season In making this map. and the
cost OF the work varies from $12 to $50 a
square mile, according to the nature OF
the country.
In addition to being q mapmaker. en-
graver and printer, the geological survey
IL perhaps the worlds greatest prospector
BY the expenditure Of less than 10 cents
an acre In examination to ascertain the
presence and quantity OF coal deposits.
the survey has increased the value of
thousands OF acres .of land from so to