80 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



necessary to add the elements of relief and culture to the plats, rapid 

 progress was made. It is estimated that not less than 15,000 square 

 miles were covered by the two parties during the season. 



Texas. — The work in Texas was successfully inaugurated about Au- 

 gust 1, the chiefs of three parties and their assistants reporting at that 

 time at Austin, Tex. As no w ork had heretofore been done in this dis- 

 trict, the establishment of a base-line and the connection of the trian- 

 gulation with that of the Coast and Geodetic Survey was necessary. 

 As it is a region of small details, and this, together with the presence of 

 much timber and embarrassing atmospheric conditions, made the work 

 tedious. Nevertheless, the party succeeded in covering an area of 

 4,000 square miles. 



Arizona and Nevada. — Work having been carried on in this region 

 during previous years, there was but little delay in putting into the 

 field the three parties — one triangulation and two topographic — assigned 

 to this district. As this is the region peculiarly favorable to topographic 

 work, the unusual area of 36,900 square miles was surveyed. 



Yellowstone National ParJc. — The topographic work in the Park re- 

 mained in the charge of Mr. John H. Eenshawe, who, with three parties, 

 carried forward the survey from the points where it was discontinued at the 

 close of the last season. One thousand square miles were added to the 

 area already surveyed, leaving one-half of the Park yet to be completed. 

 This, however, is a rugged, mountainous district, unfavorable to rapid 

 work, and it is expected that future progress will be slow. Eecent at- 

 tempted legislation concerning the Park boundaries and the relation 

 thereto of settlers' vested rights add interest to this survey. 



Division of the Great Basin. 



As previously stated, geologic work in this division was discontinued. 

 A certain amount of topographic work was done, however, by reason of 

 the extension of the survey across the western boundary of Arizona into 

 the southern part of Nevada — the object of this extension being to unite 

 large areas already surveyed. 



Division of the Padjic. 



Northern California District. — Two parties were sent to California and 

 placed under the direction of Mr. Mark B. Kerr, who in previous years 

 had been in charge of parties under Mr. Gilbert Thompson's direction. 

 In addition to covering 3,700 square miles, detailed surveys of 375 

 square miles within this same area were also made. 



At the closing of this report all of the field parties were not in, but 

 sufficient data are at hand upon which to base the close estimate that an 

 area of nearly 80,000 square miles was surveyed during the year. The 

 reduction to permanent shape of this material will be taken up by the 

 different divisions immediately upon their return, and will be completed 

 before the close of the fiscal year. 



