NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEY — RANSOME. 277 
although it does not negative the conclusion that, in general, inves- 
tigation in geophysics are logically and projDerly a function of a 
national geological survey. 
SOILS. 
The study of soils, with reference to origin, composition, and 
classification, is unquestionably a branch of geology, but the geolo- 
gist, with tradition behind him, generally looks upon soil as a 
nuisance, and geological surveys have reflected his attitude. In the 
United States the classification and mapping of soil types has for 
some years been in progress by the Department of xVgriculture. 
While quite devoid of any enthusiasm for engaging in soil mapping, 
I wish to point out merely that this work, if its results justify its 
performance by the Government and if the classification adopted is 
based on chemical, physical, and mineralogical character, rather than 
on crop adaptability, is properly a function of the national geologi- 
cal survey. 
. SEISMOLOGY. 
Another subject that is comparatively neglected by national geo- 
logical surveys is seismology. It can scarcely be asserted that earth- 
quakes have no economic bearing, and conspicuous or destructive 
examples usually receive some official attention — after the event. 
The comparative neglect of systematic study of earthquakes is prob- 
ably due to a number of causes. One of these is that few geologists 
specialize in seismology — a science in which little progress can be 
made unless the investigator possesses unusual qualifications in 
mathematics and physics. Another reason, probably, is that to most 
men the difficulties in the way of gaining real knowledge of the 
causes of earthquakes, and especiallj'^ of predicting with any cer- 
tainty the time, place, intensity, and effects of earthquakes appear 
rather appalling. Finally, earthquake prediction, or even the recog- 
nition of the possibility of future earthquakes in a particular part of 
the country, is likely to have consequences decidedly unpleasant to 
those responsible for the prediction. Experience in California has 
shown that a community still staggering from a violent shaking may 
insist with some acerbity that nothing of any consequence has hap- 
pened and that it never felt better in its life. 
Notwithstanding these difficulties, I believe that a national geo- 
logical survey, in a country where serious earthquakes have taken 
place and may occur again, should consider the collection and inter- 
pretation of seismological data as part of its duty. Such work is 
regional in scope and can not be carried far by local initiative and 
by individual investigators on their own resources. In spite of difli- 
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