The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-08-18
Geological Survey Frequently
Handicapped by Trained
Experts Leaving 1t.
PARK CITY REPORT
is MUCH BELATED
Cannot Compete With Newspa.
per Promptness and Maintain
Standard Of Accuracy.

George Otis Smith, director OF the
United States geological survey. is in
the city and a guest OF the Hotel Utah.
He has Just completed the compilation
OF report Of the geological conditions
OF Park City, which is as follows,
The recent Inquiries of the mining
port on the Park City district are graft
fying as expressions OF the value placed
upon the publications OF the United
states geological survey, however much
we may share In the regret for the delay
to which attention is thus called. II is
especially unfortunate that the two re-
ports which have suffered perhaps the
greatest delays In. preparation and pub
liCation should both refer to Utah mining
districts. I have explained In some de-
tau this ,i fiironmstancs tai, In the statement
inquiry by the Park City chamber Of
commerce In brief. the unfortunate
situation which the geological survey had
TO face was one which 1t could not con-
The inducements offered by private
practice cause many of our geologists TO
leave the public service, and II has TO be
admitted that under present conditions
and available appropriations the salaries
that the geological survey finds II posi-
bic 10 pay arc insufficient to hold many
training that commands the confidence of
the mining fraternity. AS In other in
stances. the best that seemed possible In
the case OF Mr.. Boutwell,, who is the
accept his promises TO complete his re-
port within a specified time. have no
desire to- place too much responsibility
on Mr.; Boutwell,. although It is true that
he did not deliver the completed manu-
script within one year OF the time he
promised when he resigned his survey
position, Moreover. I have no doubt this
default was an even greater disappolnt-
ment to him than 10 me.
Not Intentional.
"The suggestion that has been made
to the effect that certain delays in the
issue OF survey reports, have been In
fentionai HIn To- aI,on may be dismissed as absurd
topographers and geologists take the
field. to expedite each step I'm the prep
aration OF the maps and reports that are
TO give to the public the results OF the
lnyestigations made at public expense.
believe some advances are made each
year in eXpediting both the technical
are contributory to the publication re-
suit, The report on single mining dis
trict, however important II may be. is
only one of more than hundred publica-
tions issued each year by the geological
survey, and the survey is only one Of
many government bureaus making de-
mands upon the government printing Of
nee. with the result that there are lmita~
tions upon what can be accomplished
in this matter of rushing report
through the press once II leaves the
One phase OF tho subject appears not
TO have been mentioned by any OF those
who have Joined In urging more prompt
publication OF results, No one has sug
his field and laboratory investigators any
less thorough or prepare his results for
publication with any less regard for the
is intended. Were II not for maintaining
the United States geological survey
standard OF thoroughness In both the
even with the magazine writer's and
make public the results of field investiga-
tions Immediately after the return OF the
field men to Washington
To Maintain Standard.
ITO comply with. the demand for
prompt publication OF results. the survey
buttons to Economic Geology, prelImi-
nary statements OF the results of the
larger Investigations. as well as the brief
ten or tR tReXe Sa months sRs o the ass
that the geologists took the field. In
the preparation and publication of the
more important Investigations, 1t IS not
however, Intended to lower the, present
that gives value to tho survey reports
In the estimation OF mining men.
While Mr.. LindgTen;;, who. is in I'M
the chief geologist and myself will con
tinue to strive to raise the grade of the
surveys contributions TO the geology OF
ore deposits. even though painstaking
will be my privilege also to seek fur
ther time-saVing reforms In connection
with the mechanical processes involved
colorcd maps and other elaborate illus
lrations that are so essential to the USE
lulness OF the report, Wherever time can
be saved with no sacrifice of value Of the
uslr tIn aID ,tr.l-
trauon OF the geological survey work
may be counted upon TO effect that ex-
pedition."
Guest at Banquet.
Mr.. Smith arrived in this city Thursday
morning from the Tintic district. where |
Last night Director Smith was the guest
II the Tintic mine operators association |
1t dinner a, the Hotel Utah. Com
nenting yesterday afternoon on the |
months criticising the geological survey
Tor carrying out its part OF the policy |
adopted by the interior department ap- |
oraising public coal lands. Director
proved by the figures In the public rec
'rd. The specific charges are that prices
put upon the coal lands are SO high as
oeen paralyzed Tho facts are that the
sale Of coal lands by the government
lurlnS Inc last 1our years, during which |
,he prices have been made to express
The quantity and quality of coal under
he land show an increase over the pro-
,eding four years OF 12a per cent In acre
age and more than 3a per cent In re-
,eipts.
1T will be remembered that this in
crease, to which Utah has possibly been
he largest contributor, Is turned into
he reclamation fund and directly con
r.butes to the irrigation development Of
he state, AS regards the paralysis of |
he coal industry. I need only call at
ention to the fact that last year the
Rocky Mountain states showed an In.
;rease In output In the coal mines of
Al per cent over the previous year, as
'ontrasted with per cent for the en-
ire country"
Director Smith is highly pleased with
he conditions in this part OF the west
Ind will leave this afternoon for Butte
md Spokane TO continue the inspection
work.
Ore and Bullion
The ore and bullion report for Thurs
lay. given by Mccormick G. Co, was as
ollows: Ore received, $4,000: bullion
hipped, 100000; total. sS5, 900.
Bathing Mt Saltair makes vacation