THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 493 



not sufficiently practical. In the case of the Geological Survey it 

 has been said that the people needed practical results to assist 

 them in their material development, and that abstract studies 

 should be left to the universities and technical schools. The 

 critics fail to recognize the fact that scientific or technical knowl- 

 edge is necessary to the solution of any geologic problem, and 

 that, if it is not already in existence, investigations must be made 

 in order to obtain it for the purpose. Geology is essentially a 

 science of exploitation ; and the geologist must have at his com- 

 mand the best instruments and most reliable information that 

 can be obtained to aid him in observing, in recording the results 

 of observation, in classifying and assimilating such results, and 

 in correctly interpreting them. He must also have a knowledge 

 of the principles and laws that govern the phenomena under in- 

 vestigation, and if it is only by experimentation and special re- 

 search that he can obtain such knowledge, then the time and 

 energy must be expended to secure it. In view of these facts 

 there is no necessity for apology for the existence of chemical, 

 lithological, physical, and paleontological laboratories in connec- 

 tion with the Geological Survey, nor for special studies in the 

 glacial formations, the physics of the earth's crust, etc. They are 

 all essential to its scientific and practical work, and to the secur- 

 ing of results that will command the confidence of all who may 

 have occasion to use or refer to them. The survey will keep in 

 view the fact that it receives its support from the people, and en- 

 deavor to give in return practical results, and at the same time 

 to furnish information that will advance the higher education, 

 and especially the science of geology, in America. 



Co-operation. The recommendation of the National Acad- 

 emy of Science, that " all mensuration surveys be consolidated 

 under one organization," was not adopted ; nor could it have 

 been fully successful as outlined in the plan submitted to Con- 

 gress. If the topographic surveys were governed by any other 

 condition than that of being made principally for the geologist, 

 in the territory where his work demands the maps, they would 

 be more likely to prove a hindrance than an assistance to him. 

 An illustration may exj^lain this. During the past field season 

 it became desirable to make a geologic survey of the western 

 Maryland coal field. The old topographic map of that area being 

 found inadequate to supply the data required, a topographic 

 party was sent with the geologists ; but as the season advanced 

 it became apparent that the one topographic party could not keep 

 pace with the geologists, and a second and third topographic 

 party were sent to their assistance. Jointly they completed both 

 the topography and geology of that area before the close of the 

 season ; and the maps will be published within a year of the sur- 



