Rossiter W. Raymond 



lems to be solved there were but a 

 part, and possibly a minor part, of 

 the great problems of the structure, 

 topographical and geological, of the 

 whole mountain-system of western 

 America from the plains to the Pa- 

 cific, and it was from this point of 

 view that the great continental cross- 

 section on the 40th parallel was 

 planned. If King had taken charge 

 of the department of economic geol- 

 ogy in the California survey, the exe- 

 cution of this wider plan might have 

 been delayed ; but the plan itself was 

 conceived without reference to our 

 temporary California work." 



The new scheme was nothing less 

 than a transcontinental topographical 

 and geological survey, for which, with 

 sublime audacity, King undertook to 

 obtain, from the Executive and from 

 Congress, the authority and the 

 means. 



335 



