Pact 
J. W. Powell— United States Geological Survey. 93 
Art. XVI.—The Organization and Plan of the United States 
Geological Survey ; by J. W. PowreLt. With a map’ (Plate 
1). (Communicated to the National Academy of Sciences at 
the October meeting in 1884.) 
A SCIENTIFIC institution or bureau operating under gov- 
ernment authority can be controlled by statute and by superior 
administrative authority but toa limited extent. These opera- 
ons are practically carried on by specialists, and they can be 
controlled only in their financial operations and in the general 
purposes for which investigations are made. Their methods of 
Investigation are their own,—originate with themselves, and 
are carried out by themselves. But in relation to the scientific 
operations of such.a government institution, there is an unoffi- 
cial authority which, though not immediately felt, ultimately 
steps in to approve or condemn, viz: the body of scientific 
nen of the country ; and though their authority is not exer- 
cised antecedently and at every stage of the work, yet it is 
So potent that no national scientific institution can grow an 
. Prosper without their approval, but must sooner or later fall 
and perish unless sustained by their strong influence. 
As director of the Geological Survey, ilecpie realize that I 
Owe allegiance to the scientific men of the country, and for this 
Teason I desire to present to the National Academy of Sciences 
the organization and plan of operations of the Survey. | 
A Topocrapuic Map or THe Unirep States. 
Sound geologic research is based on geography. Without a 
raphic map geology cannot even be thoroughly 
