16 THE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



Powell, the Director, appearing for the Survey. 8 The main 

 questions regarding the Survey's work raised in hearings re- 

 lated to the value of topographic maps executed on so small 

 a scale as was then employed by the Survey, the rate of prog- 

 ress toward completion and publication of the Survey's geo- 

 logical maps, and the propriety of the wide scope of the Sur- 

 vey's scientific investigations and publications. 



While the minority of the commission, consisting of two of 

 the six members, submitted a report criticizing the Survey on 

 the score of costliness, slowness and lack of practical applica- 

 bility of its work, the majority expressed the opinion that the 

 Survey as a whole was "well conducted, and with economy 

 and care, and discloses excellent administrative and business 

 ability on the part of its chief." 9 They reported, however, in 

 favor of restricting the printing or engraving of "the scien- 

 tific reports known as Monographs and Bulletins of the Geo- 

 logical Survey" by requiring that specific and detailed esti- 

 mates should be made therefor and specific appropriations 

 made in pursuance of such estimates. This provision was ac- 

 cordingly incorporated in the sundry civil appropriation act 

 adopted shortly afterward (act of August 4, 1886, 24 Stat. 

 L-, 255). 



In 1888 the appropriation for the operating expenses of 

 the Survey, which had up that time been granted as a lump 

 sum, was itemized under eight heads; and of a total appropria- 

 tion of slightly over $737,240, $40,000 was appropriated for 

 "paleontologic researches" and $17,000 for "chemical and 

 physical researches." Thus, within two years after the com- 

 mission had made its report, Congress by express action sus- 

 tained the Survey in its paleontologic and chemical and 

 physical research, the utility of which had been questioned by 



'Major Powell's testimony furnishes a mine of information rel- 

 ative to the early operations of the Survey. All the testimony taken 

 by the commission was printed as Senate Misc. Doc. No. 82, 49th 

 Congress, 1st Session (Vol. 4 of Misc. Docs.). 



9 Senate Report No. 1285, 49th Congress, 1st Session. 



