ORGANIZATION 79 



The Metals Section and the field offices are in charge of the 

 head of the division. 



Field offices are maintained at Denver, Salt Lake City, and 

 San Francisco. To each of these offices is assigned the col- 

 lection and compilation of the metal-mine reports of a given 

 part of the western territory. The heads of these offices act 

 in cooperation with other members of the Survey when neces- 

 sary and by keeping in close touch with the mining regions of 

 the West they procure and disseminate much valuable infor- 

 mation that could not readily be obtained otherwise. These 

 offices are, therefore, general Survey headquarters and bureaus 

 of information in their respective regions. 



The reports issued by the division on the occurrence and 

 production of the several minerals are prepared in part by 

 members giving all their time to the division, and in part by 

 other members of the Survey assigned for part of their time 

 to the work. The supervision of the work remains through- 

 out in the hands of the division. 



Division of Alaskan Mineral Resources. The Division of 

 Alaskan Mineral Resources, under the direction of a geologist 

 in charge, investigates the mineral resources of Alaska. The 

 work of this division includes the making of both topographic 

 and geologic surveys and the investigation of water resources, 

 as well as the collection and compilation of the statistics of 

 the mineral production of Alaska. 



During the fiscal year 191 6- 17 twelve parties were engaged 

 in surveys and investigations in Alaska. Seven of these 

 parties were engaged in geologic surveys, three in topographic 

 surveys, one in topographic and geologic work combined, and 

 one in stream gaging. 



Water Resources Branch. The Water Resources Branch 

 is administered by a chief hydraulic engineer, who reports to 

 the Director. This branch conducts surveys of the water re- 

 sources of the United States, makes field examinations of the 

 water supplies of the public lands in relation to the several 



