CHAPTER II 

 ACTIVITIES 



In the preceding chapter the development of the activities 

 of the Survey has been briefly outlined. In the present chapter 

 each of these activities will be treated in turn and the attempt 

 will be made to trace in some detail its origin and development, 

 its present purpose, the method of its performance and the 

 progress made to date in accomplishing the program proposed. 



It may be said that all the activities of the Survey have, 

 broadly speaking, two purposes — that of making public infor- 

 mation regarding the topography and resources of the country, 

 and that of obtaining information necessary for the proper 

 administration of the laws governing the disposition of the 

 public lands. 



As indicated in the preceding chapter, though the general 

 character of the Survey's activities is determined by the per- 

 manent provisions of laws establishing and governing the 

 Survey, which provide that the Director of the Survey shall 

 have charge of "the geological survey and the classification of 

 the public lands and examination of the geological structure, 

 mineral resources and products of the national domain, . . . 

 shall continue the preparation of a geologic map of the United 

 States," yet the extent and the specific nature of the work may 

 be determined by the annual appropriations made for the Sur- 

 vey's work. The appropriation acts for the year ending June 

 30, 1918, specifically authorize expenditures for the following 

 activities : 



1. Topographic surveys in various portions of the 

 United States. 



29 



