16 CLASSIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC LANDS. 



with its staff of geologists and engineers, who analyze and translate 

 into terms of public-land administration the data collected by the 

 geologists and engineers of the field branches. 



In its organization the land-classification board is in a sense a 

 replica in miniature of the bureau of which it is a part. It consists 

 of two divisions — a division of mineral classification and a division 

 of hydrographic classification. The first corresponds to the geologic 

 branch and receives, digests, and issues as land-classification data 

 the material collected by the field geologists ; the second bears a cor- 

 responding relation to the topographic and water-resources branches 

 and similarly utilizes the engineering data gathered by the field force 

 of those branches. Again, the division of mineral classification con- 

 tains a number of sections which correspond closely with similar sec- 

 tions in the geologic branch. These sections, in the organization as 

 it exists at present, are the coal section, the oil section, the phosphate 

 section, and the metalliferous section, corresponding roughly to 

 similar sections in the geologic branch as well as to the principal of 

 the natural resources with which the board deals. 



The work of the coal section, described elsewhere in detail, is 

 to define the principles that shall control coal-land classification, to 

 determine the character of the data necessary for this purpose, to 

 receive these data as collected by the field geologists of the geologic 

 branch, and to make and promulgate the classifications and valuations 

 by the use of these data — this in accordance with principles already 

 carefully defined. The coal section consists of a chairman, who is 

 a member of the land-classification board and one of the most ex- 

 perienced coal geologists of the Survey, and a number of additional 

 members, who are familiar with coal problems and are chosen usually 

 from the geologic branch, although some have been chosen from 

 other sections of the board. The coal section thus organized holds 

 ^frequent sessions, which are attended by coal geologists who have 

 data to present for consideration. At these sessions the problems that 

 have arisen in the field are discussed and solved in accordance with 

 the established rules of the board. The form and the procedure for 

 the submission of data, including data for classification and valua- 

 tion, are prescribed, and after these data are received appropriate 

 recommendations are made to the Director for withdrawals or restora- 

 tions, and valuation plats are prepared for his approval and for 

 promulgation by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. 



Each step of these various processes is carefully recorded, in order 

 that all evidence considered and all action taken may readily be 

 reviewed at any future time should questions arise as to the correct- 

 ness of the action or should new evidence be presented. Thereafter 

 when reports on any subdivision classified are called for by any 



