1919.] New Zealand Institute Science Congress. 293 
Branch, (4) the Land-classification Board, (5) the Publication Branch, and 
(6) the Administration Branch. The Geologic Branch has four divisions- 
namely, ( a ) Division of Geology, (b) Division of Alaskan Mineral Iiesources, 
(c) Chemical and Physical Research, and (cl) United States Mineral 
Resources. The other branches are also variously divided. The Survey 
co-operates formally or informally with the various State Surveys in 
geological and palaeontological work. 
The main function of the United States Geological Survey is defined by 
law to be the making of a geological map of the United States. For this 
purpose it has had to make extensive topographical surveys. It examines 
all water resources, and classifies the public mineral-bearing lands. It 
collects exhaustive mineral statistics, and gives information on all geological 
and allied subjects. Its mineral and other collections are handed over to 
the Smithsonian Institute, with which the Survey maintains close relations. 
The publications of the Survey are very numerous, and a considerable 
proportion of each is distributed free of charge not only to residents 
in the United States but to foreign men of science, provided the latter 
can offer something in exchange. As is well known, the United States 
Geological Survey devotes great attention to economic geology, and the 
great progress made in this branch of geology during the past quarter 
of a century has been due mainly to its work. 
At times, especially during its early years, the Survey had difficulty in 
getting Congress to vote sufficient appropriations for its work. The fact 
that some of the appropriations may be made late in the fiscal year 
impedes organization, and has more than once caused serious embarrass¬ 
ment and some loss of efficiency. The scale upon which appropriations 
are made may be judged from the grants for the fiscal year 1914-15, 
which amounted to SI,620.520. The expenditure for the same year was 
$1,468,035. 
The permanent employees of the United States Geological Survey 
generally begin in minor positions, such as field assistant, and are 
advanced after having proved their competency. Numerous university 
professors, young graduates, and senior students are- employed temporarily 
in field-work. Permanent officers are allowed leave of absence to take 
outside engagements. There is much to be said both for and against this 
course. 
State Surveys .—State Geological Surveys in the United States began 
with the surveys made in North Carolina by Denison Olmsted and Elisha 
Mitchell from 1824 to 1827. The State appropriation, however, consisted 
only of $250 a year to cover travelling-expenses, and, although Olmsted 
and Mitchell were able men and did good work, Merrill* describes the 
survey as an abortive attempt. The first real State survey was that of 
Massachusetts, began in 1830 under the direction of Edward Hitchcock. It 
was followed by a regular boom in State surveys, some qf which, however, 
petered out in a few years. During the next half-century many other State 
Surveys came into existence, but most of these, as well as the earlier 
Surveys, had a chequered career and many came to an untimely end. 
Among the causes of failure were financial depressions and the Civil War 
of 1861-65 ; but the chief causes are included in the statements that the 
general public was then (as to a large extent it still is) uneducated in the 
* G. P. Merrill, Contributions to the History of American Geology (from the 
Report of the U.S. Nat. Mus for 1904), p. 295, 1906. See also pp. 266-68. 
