XVIII REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 
tories were discharged, some remaining in Washington, having obi ned 
positions in various departments of the government, others engaging 
in business in different parts of the country. These reports were, there- 
fore, completed at such leisure intervals as could be spared from other 
duties. The great pressure of work on the Public Printing Office for 
several years past has also been a partial cause of delay. 
Of the valuable memoirs embraced in the first part of this report, 
but little need be said. They comprise those of White, St. John and 
Scudder, on geology and paleontology, and those of Packard and Shufelt 
on natural history, and they will be found to be of the highest interest 
and eminently creditable to these authors. 
The editorial work has been under the supervision of W. H. Holmes, 
who has also had general charge of the business of the survey in Wash- 
ington for the last two years. He has bestowed much time and labor 
upon the preparation and revision of illustrations as well as upon other 
details of the work. ; 
I take pleasure in acknowledging the important service of Mr. F. M. 
Pierson, formerly clerk of the survey, who rendered very efficient aid in 
closing the business affairs of the organization. 
During the season of 1878 and 1879, Mr. James Stevenson, performed 
the duties of executive officer with his usual ability and fidelity. 
The small appropriation which had been allowed by Congress for com- 
pleting the office work of the United States Geological and Geographical 
Survey of the Territories was exhausted June 30, 1882. Five volumes 
of the quarto series of publications remained unpublished though far 
advanced towards completion. At my request, the Secretary of the 
Interior confided the general direction of completion and publication of 
these volumes to Maj. J. W. Powell, Director of the United States 
Geological Survey, who has assured me that he will render every facility 
in his power in bringing these final reports out in creditable shape. 
The survey does not claim that its work is absolutely accurate in 
detail but rather preliminary to the more thorough study which is to 
come in the future. It is believed, however, that this report will be 
regarded as an important contribution to the geological and natural 
history resources of the region under examination. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant. 
F. V. HAYDEN, 
United States Geologist. 
To the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 
