204 
actual field work and office compilation 
thereof are, in fact, increased. In the two 
items of topographic surveys in general and 
topographic surveys of forest reserves there 
is an increase of $40,000 over 1898-99, and 
$10,000 was added to the amount for col- 
lecting and publishing statistics of mineral 
resources. A specialappropriation for sur- 
veys in Alaska carries $25,000, a sum the 
same as was available last year. 
Topographic Branch.—The increase in the 
appropriations for topographic surveys re- 
sulted from the demands of Eastern States 
that cooperative surveys should proceed 
more rapidly. Cooperative surveys are now 
in progress with New York, Pennsylvania, 
Maryland, Maine and Alabama. The total 
sum of appropriations by these States for 
cooperation amounts to $48,500. The Geo- 
logical Survey is pledged to expend in each 
of these States an amount equal to that ap- 
propriated by it, and aState Commission or 
its representative determines the order of 
procedure of surveys; the work in New 
York, for example, is directed chiefly to 
surveys of the areas of water supply for the 
Erie Canal and the Hudson River, whereas 
in Pennsylvania stress is laid upon the im- 
portance of topographic maps to serve as 
bases for detailed geologic surveys of the 
coal, oil and gas regions. In Maryland the 
topographic work is distributed according 
to needs of the State. Geological Survey, and 
the larger portion of the State has been 
surveyed. Cooperative surveys have not 
been entered into by any of the Western 
States. The federal appropriations are little 
more than sufficient to survey one quad- 
rangle (approximately 1,000 square miles) 
in each State and to extend the necessary 
triangulation and spirit-level control. The 
purposes which determine the selection of 
areas of topographic surveys are to a large 
extent economic, and are related to the de- 
velopment of mining districts, water re- 
sources and forest reserves. The first of 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Vou. X. No. 242: 
these purposes includes also the surveys for 
general geology, which are usually ex- 
tended over districts where economic inter- 
ests are important. These topographic 
operations throughout the United States as 
planned for the present year are estimated 
to cover about sixty-five quadrangles on two 
different scales, or a total area of about 
45,000 square miles. 
The character of the topographic work is 
constantly improving, and the evolution of 
the topographer from the grade of a sur- 
veyor to that of a scientific observer is 
progressing. Whereas formerly the strong- 
est man in any party was engaged in the 
more precise instrumental work, such as 
triangulation and leveling, and sketching 
topographic features was the work of sub- 
ordinates, the reverse is now the case. The 
topographer in charge of the party is re- 
sponsible for the expression of the map, 
which can only be satisfactory when con- 
trolled by experience and executed with 
artistic skill. Furthermore, the topogra- 
phers are required to observe and note 
on the maps the classification of lands, as 
cleared or forested, and many of them take 
a scientific interest in the physiographic de- 
velopment of topographic forms. The ten- 
dency at the present time is to increase 
their responsibility and to make the place 
worthy of men ambitious to broaden 
knowledge of the conditions which fit the 
earth for man’s habitation. 
Geologic Branch.—In the northeastern 
district of the Appalachian province, com- 
prising New England, eastern New York, 
and New Jersey, a number of competent 
geologists are engaged in the study of the 
difficult problems presented by the meta- 
morphic sedimentary and igneous rocks. 
In the Adirondack area surveys of the 
southeastern portion of the mountains ad- 
jacent to Lake Champlain have been ex- 
tended to cover nearly 1,000 square miles, 
lying between Lake Champlain and the 
