86 APPENDIX TO KEPORT OF THE SECEETARY. 



among gentlemen interested in the study of Indian languages, for such 

 additions and emendations as may be suggested preparatory to final 

 publication. A tentative classification of the linguistic families of the 

 Indians of the United States has been i)repared. This will be published 

 as soon as the bibliography is ready. 



In pursuing tbese ethnographic investigations it has been the endeavor, 

 as far as possible, to produce results that would be of practical value 

 in the administration of Indian affairs; and, for this purpose, especial 

 attention has been paid to statistics, the progress made by the Indians 

 toward civilization, and the causes and remedies for the inevitable con- 

 flict that arises from the spread of civilization over a region inhabited 

 by savages. It is believed that the labors in this direction will not be 

 void of useful results. 



Survey of the Black Hills. — In 1875 a reconnaissance survey was made 

 of the Black Hills of Dakota, by Mr. Walter P. Jenny, with a corps of 

 assistants, under the direction of the honorable Secretary of the Interior. 

 On the return of the party from the field, Mr. Jenny's report, relating 

 to the mineral resources of the country, was immediately published ; but 

 the geographical and geological report was unfinished at that time. 

 This latter work was left in the hands of Mr. Henry A. Newton, his 

 geological assistant, to be completed. On May 28, 1877, at the request 

 of Mr. Newton, the completion of the work was placed under the direc- 

 tion of this survey, by order of the Secretary of the Interior. 



On consultation with Mr. Newton it appeared wise that he should 

 visit the field again, for the purpose of determining certain doubtful 

 points in the geological structure, and to insert on the maps the position 

 of the several towns and roads established in that region since the dis- 

 covery of gold ; and Mr. Newton was employed for this purpose. He 

 had been in the field but a short time when he was prostrated by the 

 sickness which resulted in his death. Previous to his departure he 

 completed his report on the geology of that country, and the map had 

 been placed in the hands of an engraver; the whole embodying all the 

 facts discovered up to that time. Thus, happily, his work will not be 

 lost. It is expected that his report will be published, during the present 

 ■winter, in the shape in which it was left by him. 



The death of Mr. Newton makes a serious break in the ranks of the 

 younger and more active geologists of America. He possessed rare 

 abilities, had much experience in field operations, and had received 

 thorough and wise training ; and his work in other fields had exhibited 

 his ability. But the great work of his short life will doubtless be his 

 report on the geology of the Black Hills of Dakota. 



During the past six years one branch of the work of the Survey has 

 been considered of paramount importance, namely, the classification of 

 lands and the subjects connected therewith. The object has been to de- 

 termine the extent of irrigable lands, timber lands, pasturage lands, 

 coal lands, and mineral lauds. In general the lands that are cultivable 



