OEIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT. 11 
was accepted as authority for the extension of the geologic and topo- 
graphic surveys and other investigations into all portions of the United 
States. 
The Director, advised by the Secretary of the Interior and the inter- 
ested committees in Congress, at once recognized the necessity of 
making a good topographic map, as a basis for classifying the public 
lands. A satisfactory classification of the lands, and especially of the 
products of the national domain, requires an indication on the base maps 
of the cleared and the cultivated lands, with subclassifications of these. 
Water is regarded as one of the most valuable resources of the countiy, 
and under the clause requiring an examination of the mineral resources 
a hydrographic survey has been made, to ascertain the amount and 
quality of the water supplies. From time to time Congress has 
definitely recognized these various functions Iry specific legislation 
providing for the making of "topographic surveys in various por- 
tions of the United States," for "gauging the streams and determin- 
ing the water supply of the United States," for " the survey of the pub- 
lic lands that have been or may hereafter be designated as forest 
reserves," for preparing "maps of Alaska showing all known topo- 
graphic and geologic features," etc. 
The growth of the work of the United States Geological Survey 
ma} T be well illustrated by the increase of its annual appropriations 
and by the increase in the amount of topographic mapping accom- 
plished within a year. The first appropriation amounted to $106,000, 
and provided, in addition to the Director's salary, $19,621 for topo- 
graphic surveys, $56,000 for geologic surveys, and $21,376 for pay of 
temporary employees and for contingent expenses. Ten years later 
the appropriation (for the fiscal year 1889-1890) amounted to $801,210, 
exclusive of that for publications. The specific purposes mentioned 
were topography, geology, paleontology, chemistry, illustrations, min- 
eral resources, library, irrigation, and engraving geologic maps. 
This appropriation was much greater than that for the years immedi- 
ately preceding and succeeding, because of the large item for irriga- 
tion, which was succeeded by much smaller appropriations for hydro- 
graphic surveys. The appropriations were, however, increased from 
3^ear to year, until ten years later (fiscal year 1899-1900) the total 
reached the sum of $811,710. For the fiscal year 1903-1 there was 
appropriated a total of $1,377,820, the larger items being: 
Topography $300, 000 
Geology 150, 000 
Alaska , 60, 000 
Hydrography 200, 000 
Chemical and physical researches 20, 000 
Mineral resources 50, 000 
Engraving and printing geologic maps 100, 000 
Surveying forest reserves 130, 000 
