292 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [July 
the charge of the Geological Survey. For the field-work during the 
summer months many temporary technical assistants are engaged, mostly 
young graduates or senior university students. These serve for a 
modest salary, and form the recruiting material for the permanent staff. 
University professors and other scientists of standing may also be engaged 
temporarily. 
At the present time the Canadian Geological Survey devotes the 
greater part of its energies to economic geology. The Mines Branch of 
the Mines Department investigates some subjects, such as the supply of 
roadmaking materials, which might conveniently, one would think, be 
assigned to the Geological Survey. Detailed geological mapping and the 
higher branches of pure geology appear to be more neglected than is 
proper in a well-balanced organization. The Survey, as might be expected, 
organizes many expeditions into unexplored country, and in these expe¬ 
ditions makes a point of studying the botany, zoology, ethnology, &c., 
of the unknown areas traversed. It will therefore be seen that in some 
respects its activities extend far beyond the scope of an ordinary geological 
survey. 
For the fiscal year that ended on the 31st March, 1916, parliamentary 
grants of $614,388-30 were available for the work of the Canadian 
Geological Survey. Of this amount $510,311-37, or considerably over 
£100,000, was expended. The work of the Survey is conducted under 
the authority of various Acts of Parliament. 
Apparently the various divisions enjoy a considerable measure of self- 
control. It does not appear likely that at the present time political or 
other lay influence is able directly to bear on the work of the Survey, but 
the following remarks in the Director’s Summary Report* for 1911 indicate 
that in past years such was not the case :— 
“ Four years ago, when the Survey was able to announce that it had 
been removed entirely from politics and outside influences, and that 
appointments and promotions would hereafter be based strictly on merit, 
the most prominent students in the colleges began to train for positions 
on the staff. By restricting the appointments as student assistants on 
field parties to students of at least two years' standing in approved 
universities or technical colleges who were studying for the professions 
of geology, mining, or topography, the Survey has been enabled to try out 
each year about sixty prospective technical men especially selected by 
their respective professors.'’ 
United States. 
Federal Survey. — The Geological Survey of the United States was 
brought into being in 1879 by an Act of Congress. It was preceded by 
various Federal Surveys, such as the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth 
Parallel, under Clarence King ; the Geological and Topographical Survey 
of the Territories, under F. V. Hayden ; and the Geographical and Geo¬ 
logical Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region, under J. W. Powell. At 
the present time it is a branch of the Department of the Interior, but, so 
far as can be judged, is free of all lay and political control except that 
exercised by Congress in deciding upon the annual appropriations for its 
work. The Survey appears to have complete freedom in expending 
the grants, and complete self-determination in its internal organization. 
The organization is somewhat complex. There are six branches : (1) The 
Geologic Branch, (2) the Topographic Branch, (3) the Water Resources 
