44 



The largest number of professional geologists in this country 

 are connected for a whole or a part of their time with official 

 surveys or bureaus. The greatest of these is the U. S. Geolo- 

 gical Survey, which in the season just closed maintained ninety- 

 three geological field parties. These each included from one 

 to three geologists or aids. In addition many of the topographic 

 and other field parties were engaged upon work so closely re- 

 lated to geology as to afford suitable opportunity for service on 

 the part of beginners at least. In the forest service and in other 

 branches of government work still other men are employed. 

 Thirty-one of the states now have state geologists or equivalent 

 officers, and sustain more or less geological work. This work 

 varies greatly in character from refined paleontologic investiga- 

 tions to the registering of mining prospectuses and bureau-of-in- 

 formation work. In some cases only a few hundred dollars are 

 appropriated for the summer field-work, perhaps, of the pro- 

 fessor of geolog}' at the university, and in others several thousand 

 dollars are given annually and ten or a dozen field parties main- 

 tained. State survey work, where available, offers peculiar ad- 

 vantages to the beginner, since on account of the small force 

 there is less specialization. 



In mining and industrial work geologists are finding an in- 

 creasing number of opportunities. Many railways, mining com- 

 panies, development companies, etc., now employ one or more 

 geologists. This indicates a welcome change of attitude in thei 

 public recognition of our work, but for the time being it crip- 

 ples survey work by drawing away many of the best men. These 

 positions are eagerly sought and pay relatively well, but usually 

 offer only restricted opportunities for research work and often 

 prohibitive conditions as regards publication. It is to be hoped 

 that in time these restrictions will largely disappear. 



Granted, then, that properly equipped and willing workers may 



