GEOLOGY. 



By George W. ITawes, Pli. D., 

 Curator in the National Museum. 



SURVEYS. 



Onr National and State g-overnments have never failed to appreciate 

 that the questions to l)e answered by geological investigation are so 

 numerons, and of importance in so many directions, that jinblic aid 

 slionld be given snch studies in order to render them systematic and 

 more nearly complete. That we remain most ignorant of the structure 

 and geological resources of some of the oldest and ablest States is, how- 

 ever, a fact which will attract attention. The investigations that have 

 been made during the past two years have aided much in developing a 

 knowledge of the natural history and resources of wide areas. The State 

 of Pennsylvania, for example, has, through its geologist, Professor Les- 

 ley, published now in all, since 1875, forty-two volumes, seventeen of 

 which appeared during the last year. This may serve as an example of 

 the zeal with which investigation in thisdepartmeut of science has been 

 l)rosecuted. As the amount of work produced is dependent upon the 

 working force, a statement of some of the more important events that 

 have influenced the public surveys will be given. 



Before the past year the surveys patronized by the national gov- 

 ernment had been prosecuted by parties working independently under 

 the supervision of ditferent executive departments. Although much 

 of the work produced by these various surveys was acknowledged 

 Aaluable, it was thought by many that if they were consolidated and 

 placed under one head, this would be of weighty importance in caus- 

 ing the work to be more systematically done, and would also prove 

 an economical measure. A committee of the National Academy of 

 Science, to which this matter was referred, reported to Congress that 

 they advised all government surveys to be consolidated under two 

 heads : 1st. A survey of mensuration, by which the work i>reviously 

 done by the coast, and geodetic, and land surveys should in the future 

 be done ; and 2d. A survey to which should be referred all questions 

 relating to the geological structure and natural resources of the public 

 domain. This resulted in the organization of the present United States 



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