COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT 279 



Thus the earlier geological and geographical surveys were 

 put out of existence and the new United States Geological Sur- 

 vey, recommended by the Academy, took their place. A pro- 

 vision was, however, made by Congress for the completion of the 

 reports of the former. 



Professor Dana remarked in the American Journal of Science 

 in December, 1879: 



" The failure of Congress to act favorably with reference to the establishment 

 of ' Mensuration Surveys,' recommended in the Report of the Committee of the 

 Academy, is thought to be a deferring of the subject for the time, and not a 

 rejection of the scheme." 114 



This opinion has not been confirmed by any action of Con- 

 gress up to the present time. The later history of the Geological 

 Survey, especially, as regards the extension of its work to the 

 States is one of much interest, but cannot be considered here. 115 



COMMITTEES ON THE RESTORATION OF THE DECLARATION 



OF INDEPENDENCE. 1880 AND 1903 



On July 19, 1776, Congress passed the following resolution: 



" Resolved, That the Declaration [of Independence] passed on the 4th be fairly 

 engrossed on parchment with the title and stile [sic] of ' The unanimous declara- 

 tion of the thirteen united states [sic] of America ' & that the same when 

 engrossed be signed by every member of Congress." 116 



On August 2 the Journal of Congress informs us " The Decla- 

 ration of independence [sic] being engrossed & compared at the 

 table was signed." 11T 



While the majority of members signed on this date, the signa- 

 tures of a few were not affixed until some months later. 



This parchment copy of the Declaration has passed through 

 many vicissitudes. It appears to have been in Baltimore when 

 Congress was sitting there in 1777, but its history between that 



114 Amer, Journ. Set., ser. 3, vol. 18, p. 494. 



115 Those interested should consult the Amer. Journ. Sci., ser. 3, vol. 18, 1879, pp. 492- 

 496; vol. 19, 1880, pp. 78-81. Amer. Naturalist, vol. 13, 1879, pp. 343-345, 535-536; 

 vol. 14, 1880, pp. 68-70. 



118 See Hazelton, J. H. The Declaration of Independence Its History, 1906, p. 208. 

 117 Loc. cit. 



