ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE; GOVERNMENT 35 1 



every $i,ooo of value of agricultural and animal products, and 

 without doubt the results achieved pay many times the cost 

 of the work. The work of the Forest Service is nearly self- 

 supporting, and might have been put into Group V. This year, 

 owing to unusual forest fires, its deficit is larger than usual. 

 Ultimately it will be more than self-supporting. The work of 

 the various bureaus is of great importance and absorbing interest, 

 but time does not permit even a brief description. 



THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND THE BUREAU OF MINES 



10. The Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines are con- 

 cerned with the mineral industries of the country: coal, iron, 

 copper and the other industrial and precious metals, oil, gas 

 and the water supply and the topography of the land. Our 

 country is rich in these natural resources and we are spending 

 them in prodigal fashion. It is the business of these two biu-eaus 

 to survey and map the distribution of metals and minerals; to 

 look for new sources of supply ; to gather statistics and to increase 

 safety and efficiency in the mining and metallurgical industries; 

 and to consider what can be done to conserve these natural 

 resources which, unlike the products of agriculture, are not 

 reproduced in annual cycles, but when once used can never 

 be replaced. In addition, topographic and water power surveys* 

 are made and mapped. The products of the mineral industries 

 of the country amount possibly to six billions of dollars per year. 

 They are indispensable to our manufactures, and a most impor- 

 tant part of our national wealth. If these two bureaus were to 

 spend in this important work of research and development, an 

 amount equal to one dollar in a thousand of the annual value of 

 mineral products, it would amount possibly to six millions of 

 dollars per year, which is more than double present expenditures. 

 Can there be any doubt that such a sum expended in the interest 

 of the public that pays the entire cost, and must bear the burdens 

 of any inefficiency that exists in the industries, would be amply 

 repaid .-^ For example, millions of dollars are worse than wasted 

 every year in accidents that could be prevented. Mining is 

 one of the most hazardous of industries. The Bureau of Mines 



