HISTORY IS 



work of the Survey fell into three classes: (i) topographic 

 surveys; (2) geologic surveys in areas of economic importance 

 or theoretical interest; (3) research in geologic theory and the 

 theory of related sciences. 



In 1882 the scope of the Survey's functions was enlarged by 

 a provision in the appropriation act for the year 1882-3 that 

 "not to exceed ten thousand dollars of the amount appropri- 

 ated may be applied under the direction of the Secretary of 

 the Interior to the procuring of statistics in relation to mines 

 and mining other than gold and silver and in making chemical 

 analysis of iron, coal and oil." Almost immediately upon its 

 organization the Survey had undertaken to collect statistics of 

 mines and mining in cooperation with the Tenth Census. The 

 legislation quoted placed the work upon a permanent basis and 

 permitted the publication by the Survey in 1883 of a volume 

 entitled "Mineral Resources of the United States," comprising 

 over 800 pages of statistical matter for the calendar year 1882. 

 An appropriation for the preparation of this report has since 

 been granted every year, and the report has come to be one 

 of the best known of the Survey's publications. 



Congressional Investigation of 1886. The Survey had been 

 in existence but little over five years when its plans and meth- 

 ods became the subject of a sweeping inquiry by a joint con- 

 gressional commission. The rapidly growing appropriations 

 for several large scientific bureaus of the government — the 

 Geological Survey, the Signal Service (which then performed 

 the functions since vested in the Weather Bureau), and the 

 Hydrographic Office — became, beginning in 1883, a subject 

 of discussion in Congress, and in 1884 provision was made in 

 the sundry civil appropriation act (23 Stat. L., 219) for a 

 joint congressional commission to "consider the present or- 

 ganizations" of the bureaus mentioned, "with the view to se- 

 cure greater efficiency and economy in the administration of 

 the public service in said Bureaus." The commission ap- 

 pointed held numerous hearings in 1885 and 1886, Major 



