PEEFACE. 



A work along- the lines of the one here presented was projected and 

 begun by the Director of tlie United States Geological Survey in 

 I880. In connection therewith a circular, bearing date of April 10 

 of that year, was issued, from Avhich is made the following abstract: 



Recent inquiries by tlie United States Guvenunent concerning foreign scien- 

 titic snrveys have demonstrated tlie desirability of recording in permanent and 

 accessible form all available data relating to the organization, administration, 

 cost, and material resnlts of geologic, geodetic, geographic, mineralogic, agricul- 

 tural, natural history, and other scieutitic snrveys officially instituted at various 

 times by the several States of the Union. 



The necessity for immediate action in the collection of such data is manifest, 

 since much valuable information — particularly details of administration and 

 cost — has never been published, but exists only in the memory of men, in pri- 

 vate records, and in public records liable to become destroyed or forgotten with 

 the decadence of the present generation. 



It is accordingly proposed by the United States Geological Survey to collect 

 material for a History of American State Surveys, with a view of publishing it, 

 if possible, during the present year. 



It was the original intention, in order that the plan might be car- 

 ried out most expeditiously and accurately, to invite geologists or 

 otliers especially familiar wdth the scientific surveys of particular 

 States, to prepare detailed histories in such form that after having 

 served their purpose as material for the general history, they might 

 be published individually under such conditions as the authors might 

 elect. A considerable number of the histories Avere thus prepared, 

 as is noted later, and a few published. What led to the abandon- 

 ment of the plan is not known to the present writer. A study of the 

 circular and the manuscripts submitted in response thereto, leads 

 one to infer, however, that the outline was too detailed and compre- 

 hensive, and in but few instances was it possible even for those who 

 actually participated in tlie work to furnish the information desired. 

 The result was that the histories were of unequal length and value, 

 surveys of the least in.iportance often being made to appear as of 

 first magnitude. Concerning what was unquestionably the most im- 

 portant of all the surveys undertaken, not a line was furnished. 



It was while engaged in tlie final revision of his Contributions 

 to a History of American Geology,' that the present writer became 



lAnunal Report U. S. Nation.nl Musoiim, 1904 (1906). 



