APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



GOVERNMENT EXPLORATIONS IN 1877. 



In accordance with the law of organization of the Institution, all the 

 specimens that are brought to Washington by the various government 

 surveys and expeditions are turned over to the National Museum in 

 charge of the Smithsonian Institution, and, therefore, accounts are here 

 given of the Government explorations during the past year under the di- 

 rection of Professor Hayden, Professor Powell, and Lieutenant Wheeler, 

 furnished by the directors of the explorations. 



THE WORK OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL 

 SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROF. F. 

 V. HAYDEN, DURING THE SEASON OF 1877. 



On the completion of the work in Colorado in 1876, it was determined 

 that the work should continue northward into Idaho and Wyoming 

 Territories. The belt of country along the fortieth parallel, including 

 the Union Pacific Railroad, having been explored in detail by the sur- 

 vey of the fortieth parallel under Clarence King, it was deemed best to 

 commence at the northern boundary of that work and continue north- 

 ward and westward. 



The survey was divided into five parties for field, geological, and to[)o- 

 graphical work, besides several parties for special investigation. The 

 following notes present the salient features of the summer's work : 



Primary triangulation. — The primary triangulation party in charge 

 of Mr. A. D. Wilson, chief topographer of the survey, took the field from 

 Rawlins Springs, Wyo. Near this place a base-line was carefully meas- 

 ured and from this a net- work of triangles was extended to the north 

 and west. After completing the work in the vicinity of Rawlins, the 

 party marched northward, making stations on Seminoe and Whiskey 

 Peaks, and thence traveled westward to Yellow Butte, where another 

 station was located. From this point the work was carried to the Wind 

 River Range. Three stations were made on the more prominent points 

 of this range with much difiiculty, owing to the great quantities of snow 

 found in these mountains during the month of June — the time the party 

 was working there. 



Continuing the work northward and westward, stations were made 

 on the Grosventre and Wyoming Ranges and on Caribou Mountain and 

 Mount Putnam near Fort Hall. After refitting at the latter place the 

 party marched south via Soda Springs to the valley of Bear Lake, where 

 another base-line was measured and connected with the work as brought 

 forward from the Rawlins base. 



After occupying Mount Preuss, Soda, Paris, and North Logan Peaks, 

 the party marched to Evanston where a connection was made with the 



