E.P.H.

WASHINGTON D. C., May 13, 1887.

Prof. O. C. Marsh,

Yale College, New Haven, Conn.

My dear Sir:

As I think you are aware, the Potomac formation of this vicinity (the Upper-Mesozoic, or Wealden, of Rogers and others) has yielded a wonderfully rich flora, of exceptional interest in that it represents the transition from prevalently polycotyledonous to prevalently dicotyledonous forms. Very few animal remains have yet been found in the formation, but these few are mainly vertebrate. Professor Fontaine, of the University of Virginia, is at work upon the flora of the formation; Mr. McGee is at work upon its structure and general characters; but no part of it has been carefully examined by competent collectors for animal remains. Now can you not arrange to send one or two experienced collectors to Washington during the coming summer or fall to carefully examine the formation in the localities that have already yielded vertebrate remains in small number?

E.P.H.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Prof. O. C. Marsh,

My dear Sir:

(Copy)

New Haven, Conn.,

October 8, 1889.

Hon. J. W. Powell,

Director U. S. Geological Survey.

Sir:

The past month, I have spent in the West, devoting the time
to a re-examination of the Mesozoic formations on the eastern flank
of the Rocky Mountains, in Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado.
This investigation resulted in tracing the Atlantosaurus beds of
the upper Jurassic more than two hundred miles further north than
they had previously been found. I have now followed these beds
nearly five hundred miles, and have found the horizon everywhere
characteristic, and one of the most distinct of any known in this
country.

Another object of this exploration was to examine the Laramie
formation along the same north and south line, especially to com-
pare its typical deposits in Dakota and Wyoming, with those further
south, in Colorado. The best marked horizon in the North is seen
in a series of deposits which may be called the Ceratops beds, as
the dominant fossils are the remains of the gigantic horned Dino-

United States Geological Survey,

Division of Vertebrate Paleontology.

New Haven, Ct., June 30th, 1890.

Sir:

I have the honor to submit the following report of the work
of this division during the past year:

In compliance with your letter of general instructions,
I have continued the systematic work of collecting vertebrate
fossils, and investigating those of special interest to science.
This work has gone on systematically and with success during the
year <u>past</u>, and some of the results are given below.

Administrative Report
June 30th, 1890.

(mailed July 12, 1900)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 3, 1891.

Prof.O.C.Marsh,
New Haven, Ct.

Sir:

For the purpose of obtaining information in relation to
the collections belonging to the U.S.Geological Survey and in
charge of paleontologists not in Washington, I have directed
Mr.Charles D.Walcott to proceed to New Haven,Ct.,to consult
with you in regard to the collections in your charge. The in-
formation desired relates to the method of recording and car-
ing for the collections, the means used to clearly distinguish
the specimens belonging to the Survey from those owned by pri-
vate individuals or public institutions,and the approximate
amount of material in your charge; also, as to the transfer of
material to the collections of the U.S.National Museum,and
how much can be forwarded for exhibition during the meeting
of the International Geological Congress here in August next.

Yours with respect,

J. W. Powell
Director.

U. S. Geological Survey,
Division of Vertebrate Paleontology,
New Haven, Conn., June 24, 1891.

Hon. J. W. Powell,

Director, U. S. Geological Survey.

Sir: -

I received a few days since from your office, notice of
the allotment for this division for the ensuing fiscal year, 1891 - 92, and
with it a request to submit a plan of operations based upon this allotment.

In outlining the plan of work for the coming year, your request, that
special attention be given to the determination and correlation of geologic formations
by their contained fossils, will be given the first consideration. An attempt
will be made to define more accurately the horizons of the Tertiary, and, as
far as possible, connect those of the West with those of the East.

I consider it, however, of great importance to push on to completion the
publication of the monographs ordered, and the main work of the year should
have that object in view. The facts thus placed on record are many of them
essential to a correct determination of horizons, and thus both ends will be
served by the vigorous prosecution of the outlined work.

Paleontologist in charge

Department of the Interior

New Haven, Conn., July 10, 1891.

Hon. J. W. Powell,

Sir: -

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication by your order, dated July 7, 1891, stating the allotment made to the Division of Vertebrate Paleontology for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, and in reply, I beg to say that I will do the best I can with the amount appropriated. On one point; namely, the employment of temporary or field assistants, I should like further information, if I am wrong. I understand the restriction of $60 per month to apply to future appointments, not to those assistants who have been employed by this division hitherto.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WASHINGTON, D. C.

July 20, 1891.

Prof. O. C. Marsh,

New Haven,

Conn.

Sir:

With the view to more systematic conduct of the administrative work in the paleontologic branch of the Survey

Mr. Walcott has, upon the recommendation of the Director, been appointed by the Honorable the Secretary of the Interior, chief Paleontologist. The Director requests the hearty co-operation of the paleontologists of the Survey in this plan and asks that business communications relating to their work, including monthly reports, be addressed to Mr. Chas D. Walcott, chief Paleontologist, U. S. G. S.

I am, with respect,

Director.

Copy

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

DIVISION OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

NEW HAVEN, CONN. March 11, 1892.

My dear Major, -

In a recent letter from Prof. Boss, dated March 8, about the Naval Observatory matter, he spoke at last appearing before the naval committee of the House, and said that he found Mr. Herbert much opposed to his plan, and also very hostile to the Geological Survey and its Chief, repeating with emphasis various charges, which we know have long since been answered. Mr. Boss says further, that in the report of that session, Herbert's most forcible denunciations were left out. All this surprised me, as I thought I understood you to say that Herbert was no longer hostile to the Survey. Boss or Newcomb, who were both present at this hearing, can give you full particulars of what Herbert said, but I suppose you have already been fully informed of it. Boss thought, from what he heard, that Herbert might make another attack on the Survey during this session. Do you think there is any danger of this?

Hoping you are quite well, and trusting soon to see you here,

Hon. J. W. Powell.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NEW HAVEN, CONN.

March 14, 1892.

Hon. J. W. Powell,

Sir: -

An important question in the field work of this division has arisen, which I now wish to submit to you for reference to the Secretary of the Interior, as his decision may prevent much future trouble.

The extended explorations of this division in the Laramie formation, in 1889, resulted in valuable discoveries of fossils on Government land, in Converse county, Wyoming. The great scientific interest of these discoveries led me, after personal examination of the field, to continue systematic work in that immediate vicinity, although not there alone, and it is important, both for the Survey and the National Museum, that these rich localities, still under exploration, should be held by the Government until the scientific results they offer are attained.

The renown of the discoveries already made has attracted much attention, both in this country and in Europe, and various attempts have been made to interfere with the Survey work, but thus far without much success. A new and determined effort is, however, now being made in the same direction, and the question I wish to submit relates to this point. As the Government does not allow timber to be cut on the public lands of the West, nor the minerals to be removed, will it permit private parties to interfere with its own work on Government land by taking therefrom fossil remains far more valuable, pecuniarily and scientifically, than the timber

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NEW HAVEN, CONN.,

or minerals?

Will you kindly have this question submitted to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior, and inform me of the decision as soon as rendered?

( Copy )

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NEW HAVEN, CONN.,

May 14, 1892.

Hon. J. W. Powell,

Sir: -

It is a matter of much importance that the type specimens of all fossils described be figured, and this is especially true of vertebrate fossils where only characteristic portions of the skull or skeleton have been secured. I have described a number of such specimens, some of which are unique, and all are of scientific importance. Beside these, there are many of my types represented by more complete material, and hence still more important, of which no illustrations have yet been made.

I therefore ask authority from you to figure all such type specimens, and it is very desirable that the drawings for these should be commenced at once.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WASHINGTON, D. C.

May 17, 1992.

Prof.O.C.Marsh,

Paleontologist.

Dear Sir:

In answer to yours of 14 th inst., requesting authority
to figure all type specimens officially described by you,
I beg to say it is deemed proper that such specimens should
be figured and published and your request is therefore ap-
proved.

(1022-92)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NEW HAVEN, CONN., June 27, 1892.

My dear Major, -

I survived the heat of Washington, ~~I reached home~~
early Saturday morning, and am cooled off at last.

I found Hatcher here, and~~ have heard from him what Osborn's men have been doing in Wyoming. In spite of my protests, they went directly to my localities, and spent most of their time at ~~our camp~~; my main locality for Cretaceous mammals, and have already sent their specimens ~~to New York.~~ The fact is a most dishonorable proceeding, and had I known ~~in time, I should~~ have stated it in my letter~~ by June 1st~~ the following~~.

If not too late, I should like to add a footnote to the letter, ~~as~~
~~after the words "near which at least they have since been collect-~~
ing"*:

* I have since learned that they collected mainly in the particular
places discovered and still claimed by the Survey.

Hoping that all is going well,

Yours very truly,

COPY.

New Haven, Conn. Aug. 6, 1892.

Hon. J. W. Powell,

Director U. S. Geological Survey,

Washington, D. C.

Sir:-

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communi-
cation of August 5th, appointing me Honorary Paleontologist of the
U/ S. Geological Survey, in charge of Vertebrate Paleontology; and
this position I hereby accept. I will do my best to carry on the
work and to complete the monographs in preparation.

( Copy )

New Haven. Conn., December 12, 1892.

Hon. J. W. Powell,

Sir: -

In compliance with a request from your office, under date of December 8, 1892, asking about the present state of work in this division, and especially " what field and office work has been undertaken, and what remains uncompleted at the present date, and what time and force will be required to complete such work," I have the honor to reply briefly as follows:

The most important field work left uncompleted is the exploration and determination of various deposits along the dividing line between the Cretaceous and Tertiary, and regarded by some authorities as transitional between the two. No more important problem is known in American geology, and its solution appears to be near at hand if the work on this horizon, so successfully pursued hitherto by this division, can be completed. One small party at a moderate expense would be sufficient to prosecute the work during the coming year.

The office work uncompleted of this division is still more important. The three large monographs ordered are well advanced in preparation, and two of them are nearly ready for publication, the plates and woodcuts being all finished and paid for. The other memoirs authorized by you are in progress, and will also contain the results of much important work and many valuable discoveries. The delay in the completion of these volumes is due to the great amount of new material brought to light by the explora-

tions of this division in the West, but their publication should now be
the first thing to claim attention.

In connection with this publication, it is a matter of great scientific
importance that the type specimens of all the fossils discovered, new to
science, be figured without delay. I brought this subject to your atten-
tion in my letter of May 14, 1892, and I again urge you to give it favorable
consideration, as the credit that justly belongs to the Survey for many
interesting discoveries is being lost by the delay.

Very respectfully,