52 
salaries of persons connected with these 
branches, making the aggregate amount for 
the Geological Survey for the fiscal year 
1897-98 $967,840, a decided increase, 
though the additional sum does not go to 
the geologic branch. 
For convenience in administration the 
work of the Survey is divided into four 
branches, each of which is again separated 
into a number of divisions. The branches 
are geology, topography, publication and 
administration ; geology and topography 
being the main branches. 
In geology the field work extends all 
over the United States from New England 
to the Pacific. Professor N.S. Shaler, of 
Harvard University, is at the head of a 
party which will continue the work begun 
last year of the survey of the Richmond 
coal basin of Virginia. Professor Walcott 
says in his report: ‘‘ Although these Vir- 
ginian fields are apparently remote from 
the New England region, the geologic prob- 
lems are closely related to those which 
Professor Shaler has particularly studied, 
and it is convenient to continue the work 
under his direction.’’ Professor Shaler has 
already completed the study of the Narra- 
gansett coal basin in Massachusetts and 
Rhode Island, and the publication of re- 
sults has been begun; and a report on the 
Cape Cod geology is also proposed for pub- 
lication. 
A party under Professor Emerson is con- 
tinuing his work of the last six years in 
studying the crystalline schists in eastern 
Massachusetts, and one under Professor T. 
Nelson Dale, in cooperation with Profes- 
sor Wolff, will extend the work of previous 
years north and east to cover the area of 
the Bennington (Vt.) quadrangle. The 
study of the roofing-slate belt of New York 
and Vermont has been completed. Pro- 
fessor Kemp, of Columbia University, goes 
to the southeastern Adirondack area to 
work on the mapping of that section. 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Vou. VI. No. 132. 
Professor J. E. Wolff will make a special 
study of the crystalline rocks of northern 
New Jersey, including zine and iron ore 
deposits. He will also complete the survey 
of the Franklin (N. J.) quadrangle. He 
will also assist Professor Dale, as above 
mentioned. Mr. David White will study 
the coal deposits of Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee, 
from a paleobotanic standpoint, and Mr. 
M. R. Campbell will continue the study of 
the distribution of the coals of West Virginia 
and Kentucky. Mr. J. A. Taff will in- 
augurate work in the coal fields of Indian 
Territory. Dr. C. Willard Hayes’ work in 
the southern Appalachian province has been 
brought to such a stage of development that 
he will prepare a monographic report upon 
it. Mr. Arthur Keith will continue the 
mapping of the crystalline rock areas in 
which he has been engaged, extending from 
the northern line of Maryland to North 
Carolina. His work is directed to an eluci- 
dation of the obscure geologic relations of 
the rocks of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont 
Plateau and their bearing upon geologic 
history. 
Two parties will be sent to the Coastal 
plain region. One, under Dr. William B. 
Clark, of Johns Hopkins, will study the 
Cretaceous formations, which include the 
marl and clay beds of Maryland and New 
Jersey, and one under Mr. George H. Eld- 
ridge, who has been working for the past 
year on his report of the phosphate deposits 
of Florida, will spend the summer in the 
Atlantic Coast plain region. 
Seven parties have been sent to the in- 
terior Mississippi region, and five to the 
Rocky Mountain region which lies between 
the British and Mexican boundaries on the 
north and south, the margin of the great 
plains on the east, and, approximately, the 
line of the 119th meridian on the west, and 
embraces the Rocky Mountains and their 
foothills. Mr. Arnold Hague is in charge 
