48 THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. [bull.227. 
PL III shows the progress of geologic and topographic reconnais- 
sances and special investigations in Alaska. 
For publications relating to Alaska and maps of the Territory, see 
the list of Survey publications. 
DIVISION OF MINING AND MINERAL RESOURCES. 
The division of mining statistics and technology (now the division 
of mining and mineral resources) was organized in 1882 to study the 
mineral resources of the United States and to serve as a means of 
cooperation with the mining interests. The results have been pub- 
lished usually in annual volumes entitled '"'Mineral Resources of the 
United States." At first only the more important lines of inquiry 
were taken up, and the work was so arranged that prompt publication 
might be had. 
The authority for this work was contained in the act of August 
7, 1882, authorizing the United States Geological Survey, in addition 
to its other duties, to procure statistics in relation to mines and mining. 
The first report from this division was a chart showing the mineral 
products of the United States for 1882, and was issued in less than six 
months after the division had been created. 
In 1882 the division consisted of one employee, who carried on the 
work in the office of the Survey at Washington, with occasional help 
of a clerical nature, until 1884, when two assistants were assigned to 
the work. About 25 persons outside of Washington contributed 
papers to these earty reports, some gratuitously and others for a 
consideration. Few of them, however, could be called employees of 
the Survey, since, if they were paid at all, the compensation was only 
sufficient to cover the actual expenses incurred in the preparation of 
papers. 
In 1892 the division employed 8 persons in the Washington office 
and about 25 contributors outside the city. In 1903 the division had 
grown to 18 employees in the Washington office and between 40 and 
45 outside the city. 
In organizing the work of the division each important mineral 
industry was assigned to the best expert on the subject who con Id 
be found in the United States. By degrees the work of each one 
of these grew to include a complete canvass of the subject among all 
the producers in the United States, so that the reports issued were 
statistically complete each year, and embraced, besides statements of 
production and value, a brief account of the technical developments of 
the } 7 ear and of additions to the knowledge of existing mineral deposits. 
To accomplish this, it is necessary at all times to keep as complete 
a list as possible of the mineral producers of the country. This is 
done largely by correspondence, supplemented by Held work of agents. 
On all cards of inquiry requests are made of producers for the names 
