The Nome daily nugget., 1911-01-16
DOING A VALUABLE WORK.

But few people appreciate the great value ot the services of the members of the United tates geological survey corps II requires special training and aptitude to make geological surveyor. While working for the government he IS barred from the opportunity ot profiting by the discoveries he makes His business Is to examine q country, and report to the government His report is sent broadcast. and in case of a report on q mineralized region its value to the prospector or miner who Is exploring that region cannot be esti
 mated.
 The work of the geological surveys in Alaska is of special importance This Is great and comparatively unknown country. The government k sending trained men who are specialists. to study the formation and existing geo logical conditions Their reports will tell the location Of the mineral belts
 V
 minerals can be found They know
 that placer gold i- associated with a certain formation. copper with an other formation. coal and petroleum with another The geological survey pr will map the country and indicate where different minerals should exist and nis map will show where. accord Ing to the science of rocks. there can not bc any precious minerals In short. the geological surveyor tells the min CT where to prospect. and tells him that in another region prospecting win be productive of no good results Per haps IL wiu be more strictly accurate to say that thegeological surveyor can tell this much 1T he have the oppor- tunity [" make thorough exploration and examine ton of country. I'nfnrtura,aIv ,H- --....--. --.-a-.s ..r not fully understand the conditions px- lsting in Alaska nor the difficulty of travelling over the great area which tn" geologist must examine. The ap propriation for the work k inadeauate Tn" government should make a larger appropriation and put a force in t,,n held to complete the work as soon 10 posNihi" Ultimately the government VIII cover the field and the result Q, ,h" work don" win b. an exhaustiy. research into the geology and mineral. "sy of Alaska. it win cost no nor. to do this work within a few y.,,s than il will to do il by plecemeaI GOV erlns period of ten years or m IT, Tn" completion of this work will hast eh the development of the country The publication by the government or facts concerning this country will bring neo- Die here ,o help us develop what we believe to be the greatest and most valuable mineral country in the world. ana We urge congress to mak. an ad... quate appropriation Ia the end that th" work Of the government geologists Tn Alaska may be speedily done.
 There is another though, in copn.,- lion with this subject which should b.. submitted to the law making power The held men in the department, of the l united States geological survey should !, De pehsioned. These men are scientists | and scientists usually are not bushes. men They are too engrossed with | their work 10 think about making money. and may not provide d compet- '"ee TOT the Future The productive part of their lives is given to the gov ernment for the benefit of the peopl. The service they render is valuable ana should entitle them to an assur- inc" of means of support in old aga Fix