12 THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. [bull.227. 
During the first } T ear (1879-80) the topographers mapped, on the 
small scale of about 4 miles to the inch and with the large contour 
interval of 200 feet, 3, -±00 square miles. During the last year ( L902-3) 
there were mapped approximately 31,000 square miles, on, however, 
the much larger and more detailed scales of 1 mile and 2 miles to the 
inch and with relief shown by contours having intervals varying 
between 1< » and 100 feet. 
PRESENT ORGANIZATION OF THE SURVEY. 
For convenience of administration the Geological Survey is organ- 
ized in branches, divisions, and sections. The work classifies naturally 
into five great branches: (1) Administrative, (2) geologic, (3) topo- 
graphic, (4) hydrographic, (5) publication. The branches are subdi- 
vided into divisions, and some of the divisions into sections. In the 
administrative branch the division is in most instances the adminis- 
trative unit. In the technical branches the division is in some instances 
the administrative unit, while in others it is organized for inspection 
purposes only, and the section is the administrative unit. 
The permanent force of the Survey has grown during the last 
twenty-five years from 39 to 678. The organization and the number 
of persons employed are shown in the table on the opposite page. 
This table shows only the number and classification of persons regu- 
larly employed; the field force of the Survey is temporarily increased 
during the field season by the employment of skilled assistants and 
aids in surveying and by laborers to the number of 50 in the geologic 
branch, 200 in the topographic branch, and 250 in the hydrographic 
branch, thus bringing the total number of employees up to about 
1,200 during the field season of 1903. 
The Director is appointed by the President; all other permanent 
positions are within the civil-service rules and regulations and can 
be filled only by means of competitive examination of applicants. 
Laborers employed temporarily for field work during the field season 
are engaged by chiefs of parties at or near the field of work. 
