332 GEOGRAPHIC WORK OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT 



The Division of Hydrography in the Geological Survey has in 

 charge the examination of the water resources of the United 

 States, both above and under ground. Measurements are made 

 of the amount of water discharged by various rivers in different 

 parts of the United States, and from the facts thus obtained 

 computations are had of the daily flow, thus giving the fluctu- 

 ations through periods of seasons and years. At the same time, 

 a careful study is carried on in certain localities of the geologic 

 structure with especial reference to the ability of the rocks to 

 receive and transmit water, and, where practicable, maps are 

 prepared showing the depth of the principal water-bearing strata, 

 so that it is possible for any person to form a fairly definite idea 

 as to the probability of obtaining supplies for various purposes. 

 The economic bearing of information of this character is readily 

 recognized when consideration is had of questions of develop- 

 ment of water-power, the supplying of cities or country homes 

 with water, or the extension of agriculture through irrigation. 

 In the west, where the farmer must apply water artificially be- 

 fore a crop can be raised, it is obvious that the supply must be 

 ascertained before a great extension of tilled land can be possi- 

 ble. We know that the amount of water available in the arid 

 region is far less than the demands made upon it; so much so 

 that it ma}'' be said that all land value depends upon the water 

 supply. The United States, being the great landowner, has 

 before it the problem of the reclamation of this vast extent of 

 fertile country, and each citizen, as part owner, is concerned in 

 seeing that the largest use is made of the water. 



The Forest Division is engaged in making an examination of 

 the forest reserves in the west, with a view to learning the amount 

 of timber contained therein, the distribution of species, the con- 

 ditions of growth, and a large group of facts essential for the proper 

 management of these reserves. It is engaged further in the col- 

 lection of statistics for standing timber throughout the west. 



The first report of this division will appear as a part of the 

 Annual Report of the Survey for the past year, and will be ac- 

 companied by a portfolio of maps. 



The Division of Statistics collects the statistics of production 

 of metals and minerals and publishes the results in an annual 

 report. 



The publications of the Survey consist of atlas sheets and other 

 maps, geological folios, annual reports, bulletins, and mono- 

 graphs. The atlas sheets are sold individually at five cents, or 



