SKETCH OF CHARLES D. WALCOTT. 551 



was enabled to restore and delineate all the more important organs, 

 and thus make a satisfactory determination of the biological rank and 

 position of the Trilobita. 



In stratigraphical paleontology Mr. Walcott has thoroughly com- 

 bined field studies of the strata with laboratory work on fossils. 

 His most important local work has been on the so-called Grand 

 Canon section of Utah and Arizona, which exhibits an unusually 

 complete rock series from Archaean to Tertiary, in the Eureka min- 

 ing district of Nevada, and in the Taconic region of New York, Ver- 

 mont, and Massachusetts. His work on the Cambrian formations 

 of North America covered a wide geographical range, as already 

 mentioned, and led to the systematic grouping of the Cambrian rocks 

 in three chronological divisions, each characterized by a distinctive 

 fauna. In 1888 he visited Wales for the purpose of making a per- 

 sonal study of the type district of the Cambrian system — the district 

 rendered classic by the original labors of Sedgwick and the subse- 

 quent researches of Hicks. 



Mr. Walcott's work of scientific administration began in 1891, 

 when he was given supervision of all the paleontological work of the 

 Geological Survey, and has been progressively enlarged to the pres- 

 ent time. When called to the directorship of the survey in 1894, 

 he took charge of a body of scientific work already well organized, 

 and continued a policy of administration which for several years he 

 had been instrumental in shaping. He had no important changes 

 to institute which had not been contemplated by his predecessor in 

 office, and his ability to develop and strengthen the organization 

 depended largely on the confidence he was able to inspire in those 

 members of the legislative branch of the Government who deter- 

 mine the amount and general purpose of appropriations. Between 

 1879 and 1894, while the survey was under the direction of Mr. 

 Clarence King and Major J. W. Powell, the amount assigned by 

 Congress to its work had been gradually enlarged from $106,000 to 

 $459,640, and the great body of geological work thus rendered pos- 

 sible had so stimulated State and individual activity as to give 

 American geology a new and unprecedented status. Not only did 

 the publications of the survey constitute a library in themselves, 

 but the valuable material which became available for unofficial 

 publication led to the institution of two journals devoted wholly to 

 geology, and the organization of a geological society publishing an- 

 nually a large volume of Transactions. It was therefore a matter 

 of great importance, alike to the science of geology and to the great 

 economic interests involved in its development, that the man chosen 

 to succeed Major Powell should command the respect and confidence 

 of the people and their representatives, so that the national work 



