Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-12-07
WORK OF U. S. GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY.

districts, palentologic researches,
work in chemistry and physics, and in
vestigations Of surface and under
ground water resources are among the
years activities OF the United States
Geological Survey as mentioned in the
annual report OF the director, lust
made public. The number of en-
ployees in the Geological Survey hold
ing regular appointments was ST.
most Of them are field men whose var
led work Families into every State.
in addition to Alaska and other out
lying territory of the United States
Besides these small host OF tenn
porary camp field men were employed
-rodmen, teamsters, cooks, ETC. Some
OF the most important things that the
Geological Survey has to show for its
work are gelogic surveys which cover
wide scope of practical and scien-
tihc activity, embracing 81 States
topographic mapping in Fl States COW
ering 1884 square miles and includ-
ing more than 5000 miles Of levels
and primary traverse lines; more than
1000 measurements Of stream flow in
81 States and investigations of under
ground waters in 10 States.
The Survey also acted on more than
$4,000 cases referred to in connection
with the administration Of the public
lands; and made a decrease Of 1914
600 acres in outstanding Government
coal reserves, of 10000 acres in out
standing petroleum reserves, and Of
2eS0O0 acres in phosphate reserves.
There was, however, a net increase OF
268,OO0 acres in the area classified as
phosphate land. The present acre
ages classified and reserved by the
Government as coal, petroleum, oil
shale, and phosphate lands are, coal,
65,OO0,O00, petroleum 6,5OO,OOO, oil
shale, 100000, phosphate, 2,7OO,OOO.
The Survey also made net increase
of 635,00O acres in power-site reserves,
designated $4,000 acres in Nevada
under the ground water reclamation act
and made net increases of 500 acres
In public water reserves, Of $685.
600 acres in enlarged Homestead des-
ignations and Of 4778,OOO acres in
stockraising homestead designations.
The Washington Office distributed
602,0 maps, of which $4,000 maps
were sold
The Geological Survey is scientific
bureau which has to DO with the miner
al resources Of the earth rather than
with men. Therefore it is known to
but comparatively few, for to most
people its reports seem to lack human
interest. The work Of its large topo-
graphic force, for instance, is record
ed in lines on paper-maps- do
not lend themselves especially we'll to
columns in the newspapers. Where the
Geological Survey leaves off others
take hold. Thus the geologist may
carefully explore and outline on a map
the structure of an oil field and So ad-
wise the wildcatter where or where not
to drill; yet little public interest at
taches to the region until the oil man
sets UP his rig and begins to drill So
it is with all the work of the organiza-
ton; il is basic, foundation work, upon
which many kinds of development may
rest later, after the Geological Survey
has moved on to new fields Of investi-
CATION.
An example of the forward looking
policy of the Geological Survey is
seen in its anticipation last winter of
the coal strike, when as a measure of
preparedness, in cooperation with the
Census, il made an inventory of the
amount Of coal stored in the United
States, and also prepared and pub
lished map Of the United States
showing the coal mining districts.
The work of the Geological Survey
in connection with oil, says the dircc-
tor, continues to be of increasing
value, and the application of geology
to practical affairs is shown by the
fact that in four oil fields that have
been extensively developed, the early
geologic mapping indicated the exis-
tence of oil in the ground, which was
later proved by commercial develop
ment. Other activities Of the Geologi-
cal Survey included examination of
Deposit Of oil shale in four States {:
comprehensive studies Of the Colorado
and San Juan rivers in Utah and Ari-
IONA with reference to reservoir sites ::
the completion Of studies of radium-
bearing carnotite ores and tungsten