694 
THE SURVEY OF THE FOREST RESERVES. 
Proressor CuHas. D. Watcorr, Director 
tor of the United States Geological Survey, 
has just returned to Washington after an 
absence of three months and a-half spent in 
the field. 
In the course of his journeys Mr. Walcott 
gave a short time to geologic investigation 
in the Sierras, on his own account, and to at- 
tending to the general affairs of the bureau. 
He was engaged principally, however, in 
looking after the surveys and investigations 
of the suspended forest reserves, a work 
only just entered upon by his bureau, and 
to start which Congress at the last session 
made an appropriation of $150,000. This 
work was started and got under way in 
July. In connection with this branch of 
work topographic and subdivision surveys 
are being made in nine of the forest reserves 
of the West, the field being divided between 
two of the topographic divisions or sections 
of the Survey. Mr. R. U. Goode, of the 
Pacific Section, is making surveys in the 
Bitterroot, the Priest River and the Wash- 
ington reserves, while Mr. Douglas, of the 
Rocky Mountain Section, is surveying the 
Lewis and Clarke and the Flathead reserves 
of Montana, the Big Horn and Téton Re- 
serves of Wyoming and the Uinta Reserve 
of Utah. Before the season closes Mr. 
Goode will also work in the San Jacinto Re- 
serve of southern California, sending some 
of his parties into that area when they are 
driven by bad weather out of the more 
northern reserves. 
Data on which to base definite statements 
of the results of the surveying work of the 
season are not yet available. Preceding 
the topographic work proper triangularand 
spirit-level lines are being run, except in the 
higher and more rugged regions; where 
there are no roads and trails. The subdi- 
vision surveys are being made in the same 
manner as the subdivision surveys in In- 
dian Territory. Another feature is the 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Von. VI. No. 149. 
outlining by the surveyors, in the course of 
their other work, of all wooded and forested 
areas, and another is the erection, at suitable 
intervals, of permanent bench marks, to 
mark the elevation above sea level. There 
are from one to three parties in each reserve. 
It is yet too early for definite statements of 
the results of the season’s work, but such 
data as are at hand indicate that the surveys 
have progressed satisfactorily, considering 
the lateness of the start, the rugged charac- 
ter of much of the country traversed, ete. 
In the Washington and Flathead Reserves 
work was discontinued at the close of Sep- 
tember on account of snow and otherwise 
unfavorable weather, but at last reports it 
was still going on in all other localities. 
The topographic maps which will result 
from the topographic surveys will be on the 
scale of two miles to the inch with 100 foot 
contour intervals. These will serveas base 
maps for the representation of forestry de- 
tails, agricultural and mineral lands, ete. 
The subdivision surveys will enable the de- 
markation of tracts of land for agriculture, 
for minerals and for timber. 
The general economic investigation of the 
reserves is under the charge of Mr. Henry 
Gannett, who is assisted by seven forestry 
experts. The reserves, and the experts as- 
signed to each, are the Black Hills Reserve, 
H. 8S. Graves ; the Big Horn Reserve, F. E. 
Town; the Priest River Reserve and the 
eastern part of Bitterroot Reserve, John B. 
Leiberg ; the eastern portion of Washington 
Reserve, W. Y. Steele and M. W. Gorman ; 
the western portion of the Washington Re- 
serve, H. B. Ayers, and the Teton Reserve, 
Dr. T. 8. Brandegee. Work was begun in 
these several reserves at various dates be- 
tween July 1st and August 15th. It has 
since progressed satisfactorily in all the re- 
serves, according to Mr. Gannett, who has 
just returned to Washington and made his 
first report of the season. The first area 
to be completed, Mr. Gannett says, is the 
