308 The American Geologist, Novcinber, i89i 
cxpccti'd duty of the ohU'V survey. It is pliiin that tlii' uppro- 
l)ri:itit>ns coinmittc'c ex|)octt".l to make fuitlu'i' recommcnidations 
intended to carry out the phin of the Aeadi'iny of Sciences, he- 
cause in the clause rehitinji' to the coUections made by the various 
surveys they desionated the Coast and (Jeodetic survey "the 
Coast and Interior survi'V." in keepin|Li- witli a chauiic proposed 
by the Academy's committee. 
Soon canie muruuirs of duplication and chishinii' of otticial 
functions between the two surveys. Tliis became so h)ud and so- 
|)atent that (^)ni>•ress created a -'joint commission" to examine 
into the scientilic work of the goNcrnment more wi(h'ly. Tiiis 
commission was appointc I .July 7, 1SS4. and continued its inves- 
tigation until ISSG. It again consulted the National Academy of 
Science, and that body recommended the ci-i'ation of a govern- 
mental " Department of Science,"' to. coordinate tuid include the 
Coast and (leodctic survey, the Geological survey, and the me- 
teorological woi'k of the Weather Itureau. Such recommenda- 
tion, however, was not received cordially, and never went intO' 
effect. Since then the Weather bureau ha-s l)een transferred from 
the War Departmnit and given in charge, as a civilian l»ureau. to' 
the new Department of Agricultui'c : the (Jeological survey has 
continued to " maki' preparations for a gi'ological map of the- 
T'nited States," and the (N)ast and (ieodetic survey, besides its 
transcontinental triangulation. has cooperate:! with various States 
in the construction of top()grai)hical maps, and has done its usual 
coastwise work. There was no eoordinatioii of the work of the- 
two surveys. The duplication is as tlagrant as is possil)lc under 
the courteous haiuUing of two intelligent chiefs. 
It is time, however, that such waste of treasure and of energy 
be stopped. There are two series of independent triangulation 
ln'ing spread over the United States, each de-iigned to [)repare for 
topographical nnipping. They arc not l»ound to articulate with 
each other, nor to agree with each other. If they are both car- 
ried to completion there will 1k' two sets of topographical maps. 
It is true that the area is so large within which tlu'v can operate 
that they do not yet violently imj)inge on each other. The States 
that elect to cooperate with tht- Coast and (Jeodetic survey in the 
construction of their topograjrhical maps, now some fifteen or 
twenty in number, are, for the most [)art, let alone, in this regard, 
by the U. S. Geological survey, while those which have attempted 
