Geology and Mineralogy. 143 



distributed in four groups, Geologic, Topographic, Publication and 

 Administration. Under the geologic branch, there are the divis- 

 ions of Geology, Paleontology, Chemistry, Hydrography and 

 Mineral Resources. The division of geology was conducted by 

 twenty-six field parties, each party in charge of a geologist or 

 assistant geologist who reported directly to the director. Some 

 of the results reached during the year are the following : The 

 Shaler party in New England have developed the facts regarding 

 the coal field in Rhode Island and made experiments tending 

 to prove a practical use for the large stores of anthracite of this 

 region — also a report on the road-building stones of Massachu- 

 setts will appear in the accompanying documents. The Dale 

 party was engaged in mapping the areal geology of the roofing- 

 slate belt of New York and Vermont. Valuable scientific inform- 

 ation regarding the Devonian and Silurian rocks was developed 

 by the Willis party working at the coal regions of West Virginia 

 and Maryland. The Campbell party developed the fact that in 

 the extension of the Pottsville coal series of Pennsylvania south- 

 ward into West Virginia the series itself was increased by the 

 addition of lower beds. The Hayes party have done much in the 

 Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama regions to increase the knowl- 

 edge of the coals, iron ores, manganese, bauxite and phosphate 

 beds of this region. The R. D. Lacoe collection of carboniferous 

 coal plants recently presented to the National Museum by its 

 maker is of great value and has engaged part of Mr. David 

 White's time during the year, he reports it as containing upward 

 of 80,000 specimens of paleozoic plants. Its scientific value is 

 great, as it contains nearly two-thirds of the original specimens 

 described and figured from the carboniferous flora of the United 

 States. The Georgia and Carolina gold belt was examined by 

 the Becker party, notice of the results has already appeared in 

 these pages. The Van Hise party were working in the Lake 

 Superior region ; in their survey they used successfully the mag- 

 netic needle in tracing the connection between the Marquette and 

 Michigamme iron-bearing formations over an area where the 

 exposures were very. rare. Mr. Gilbert's party have done great 

 service in the Colorado region by determining the depth and 

 position of strata which are likely to furnish successful artesian 

 well supplies. Mr. Hill's party in Texas sent in some pure white 

 chalk from the Cretaceous of that region for illustration of this 

 rock from the United States. 



Mr. Emmons carried on laborious and extensive underground 

 examinations of the mines of the Leadville region in the prepara- 

 tion of a supplementary report on this important mining district. 

 He reports the probability of developments of new gold deposits 

 along the contacts between the porphyry and limestones, but on 

 account of the great irregularity of the porphyry intrusions it is 

 impossible to locate exactly where the deposits will occur. Valu- 

 able results are also reported from the examination of the 

 Oquirrh mountain range of Utah. Gold and silver being found 



