REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 
Surveys Wesr or THE 100TH Merrp1an.— We have before 
Lt. Wheeler’s preliminary report of progress of the geograph 
and geological surveys, and explorations west of the 100th 
ian in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. 
fourth season of field work was brought to a close in December last, 
when the parties returned to Washington to elaborate results. 
These surveys have been made to perfect and supplement each other i 
in such a way that a vast extent of country has been covered 
from central California over a great part of Nevada, as far east 
eastern Utah and south including Arizona. The initial work 
surveys consists in the accurate mapping out of the public domain 
lying to the westward of the 100th meridian. ‘To accomplish t 8 
a number of skilled topographers ahd astronomers have. been em- 
ployed, whose successful efforts can hardly be overestimated iÍ 
these particular lines. As collateral branches of the work, geo! 
mineralogy, chemistry, botany, ethnology and zoology, all have 
ceived due share of attention and large collections have been ma 
amounting to many thousands of specimens. In addition to 
scientific subjects, the questions more especially bearing on | 
ical economy have been carefully discussed ; such as methods 
irrigation, mining, etc., the establishment of military posts, ¢ 
Numerous photographs were taken representing the ancient as ¥ 
as modern dwellings of the Indians, the geological formati 
mountains, etc. A vast amount of manuscript is in hand 
for publication should Cońgress make the necessary and 
proper appropriations. Probably not less than fifty new , 
of insects, fish, etc., will be figured in the reports, which will 
sist of seven quarto volumes besides an atlas of maps, W 
already near completion. From the maps we have seen, W 
that they are probably the best of the country ever made. 
year’s work will consist of labors in the mining district * 
as Snab in Colorado. The personnel of the party is nearly 
same as heretofore, consisting of the following accomplis! 
cers ; among the names will be recognized several well knot 
naturalists :—Lt. G. M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers in charge 
W. M. Marshall, Corps of Engineers Astronomical ; Li. ® 
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