540 BULI^ETliJ 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The agricultural division detenriined the areas of the various soils 

 and represented them on the map, according to a classification based 

 on observation in the field of the conditions of the soils, the native 

 vegetation, and on chemical and mechanical analyses. 



The division of forests determined the distribution of the vari- 

 ous trees, and had different forests examined by men well known for 

 their experience in regard to timber and the manufacture of lum- 

 ber. The object was to obtain such a general knowledge of the eco- 

 nomic character of the forests as would be needed in order to settle 

 many questions of general policy. Where it should be necessary, 

 closer estimate of tlie amount of timber on each quarter section would 

 be made independently. This division also paid attention to general 

 questions of the planting and acclimation, and to questions relating 

 to the forest policy of the roads. 



■ The division of forage plants related especially to the plants Avhich 

 form the basis of the whole grazing industry, and of other questions 

 relating to that business. This division was also charged with the 

 duty of ascertaining from the experience of other countries the use- 

 ful plants, either entirely new to us or of hardier varieties, which 

 are adapted to cultivation in our different cliraatic areas. 



In the laboratory were analyzed tlie large amount of samples col- 

 lected in the field; and there also were carried on such experiments 

 as were necessary to determine the commercial value of such useful 

 materials as were discovered by the survey. 



The division of topography had charge of the mapping of the more 

 important portioTis of the region covered by the survey. It also had 

 the duty of determining and representing the areas of land adapted 

 to irrigation, and from an inspection of the maps it is practicable 

 to determine in a broad way the possibility of large irrigation en- 

 terprises. 



The object of the survey was essentially, by gathering systematic- 

 ally all the facts concerning the resources of the region, to obtain the 

 data necessary to guide the companies in regard to building feeders, 

 in regard to matters of policy in encouraging the starting of differ- 

 ent industries, and in directing immigration to the proper points. 

 It was also intended to furnish to the world such comprehensive in- 

 formation concerning the great Northwest and its resources as should 

 forward a sound development of the country, and thus increase the 

 prosperity of the companies under whose auspices the enterprise 

 was conducted. To insure the gathering of these facts in such a man- 

 ner as to make them of service the divisions were put under the direc- 

 tion of men whose names vouched for their value. 



