Biographical Notice 



Swindle" of 1872. A full account of 

 this episode will be found in the Engin- 

 eering and Mining Journal of Dec. 1 o, 

 1872, together with my own editorial 

 comments, based upon private know- 

 ledge as well as published reports. 

 The whole affair reflected the greatest 

 credit upon King's personal honor and 

 loyal friendship — its most creditable 

 feature being the way in which he 

 managed the exposure so as to prevent 

 further loss by innocent investors, and, 

 at the same time, to avert unmerited 

 disgrace from equally innocent pro- 

 moters and experts. By a sudden and 

 sensational disclosure he might have 

 won cheap distinction for himself, at the 

 cost of cruel injustice to others. . . . 

 The great success and popularity 

 of the United States Geological Sur- 

 vey has been due, without doubt, not 

 only to the liberal support of Con- 

 gress, which King, more than any 

 other one man, was able to influence, 

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