of the United States Geological Survey. 99 
lished; 1900 are distributed by Congress, 3000 are held for 
sale and exchange by the Geological Survey. 
The Monographs of the Survey are quarto volumes. By 
this method of publication the more important and elaborate 
papers are given to the public. Six Monographs, with two 
atlases, have been issued; five Monographs, with two atlases, 
are in press. 1900 copies of each Monograph are distributed by ~ 
Congress; 3000 are held for sale and exchange by the Survey 
at the cost of press-work, paper and binding. "They vary in 
price from $1.05 to $11. 
he chiefs of divisions supervise the publications that origin- 
ate in their several corps. The general editorial supervision is 
i by the Chief Clerk of the Survey, Mr. James C. 
illing. 
GENERAL GEOLOGY. 
In organizing the general geologic work, it became neces- 
Sary, first, to consider what had already been done in various 
Portions of the United States; and for this purpose the com- 
Pilation of a general geologic map of the United States was 
un, together with a Thesaurus of American formations. 
In addition to this the bibliographic work previously described 
At this point it became necessary to consider the best methods 
Oy apportioning the work; that is, the best methods of dividing 
Corps of observers. A strictly geographic apportionment was 
hot deemed wise, from the fact that an unscientific division of 
labor would result, and the same classes of problems would to 
a large extent be relegated to the several corps operating in 
field and in the laboratory. It was thought best to divide the 
Work, as far as possible, by subject-matter rather than by terri- 
torial areas; yet to some extent the two methods of division 
will coincide.” There are in the survey at present: 
bens a division of glacial geology, and Prof. T.C. Cham- 
lin, formerly State Geologist of Wisconsin, is at its head, 
ah 4 strong corps of assistants. There is an important field 
or which definite provision has not yet been made, namely, 
© study of the loess that constitutes the bluff formations of 
the Mississippi River and. its tributaries. But as this loess 
Proves to be intimately associated with the glacial formations 
of the same region, it is probable that it will eventually be rele- 
8ated to the glacial division. Perhaps the division may event- 
inely ew to such an extent that its field of operations will 
nelude the whole Quaternary geology. 
