6 THE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



to the survey, the cost of the survey appears to have been 

 $805,340.* 



Establishment of the U. S. Geological Survey, 1879. It 



will thus be seen that in the early seventies four surveys were 

 simultaneously in progress under specific appropriations made 

 by Congress, two under the Interior Department and two 

 under the War Department, each having a method of its own 

 and in several places two covering the same area. 



In addition, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, after having 

 executed a triangulation and detailed survey of part of the 

 coast of the United States, had, under authority granted by 

 Congress in the act of March 3, 1871, extended its work into 

 the interior in order to provide, by means of primary triangu- 

 lation carried across the continent, geodetic connection between 

 the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. 



The feeling became very strong, both in Congress and out- 

 side, that this condition of affairs was unsatisfactory, for there 

 was evidently not only loss of efficiency and unnecessary ex- 

 pense by having five separate organizations working in the 

 same general field, but duplication and overlap of work. 4 



As a result, in 1878, Congress in making further appropria- 

 tions for the existing surveys (act of June 20, 1878, 20 Stat. 

 L., 230) provided that : 



The National Academy of Sciences is hereby required, at 

 their next meeting, to take into consideration the methods and 

 expenses of conducting all surveys of a scientific character 

 under the War or Interior Department, and the surveys of the 

 Land Office, and to report to Congress as soon thereafter as 

 may be practicable a plan for surveying and mapping the Ter- 

 ritories of the United States on such general system as will, in 

 their judgment, secure the best results at the least possible 

 cost; and also to recommend to Congress a suitable plan for 



3 A full discussion of the indirect cost of this survey may be 

 found in the report of the commission to consider the organization 

 of the Signal Service, Geological Survey, etc., 1886. (Senate Report 

 No. 1285, 49th Congress, 1st Session.) 



4 See H. R. Report No. 612, 43d Congress, 1st Session. 



