DOCUMENTS. 117 
the supplying of transfers from engraved plates to contracting firms 
for illustrating Survey papers, and the printing of special editions of 
maps for States cooperating with the Geological Survey. The total 
number of copies of this miscellaneous matter printed in 1903 was 
220,000. 
DIVISION OF DOCUMENTS. 
All Survey publications, when delivered by the printer, are received 
by the chief of the division of documents, who receipts for and is cus- 
todian of them, and distributes them in accordance with law. 
The chief clerk assumed charge of documents — principally those of 
former surveys — until 1882, when this duty was assigned to the libra- 
rian. In 1893, owing to the growth of the library, a division of docu- 
ments and stationery was created, under the direction of a chief, aided 
by several assistants. This organization continued until May, 1901. 
when the present division of documents was established. 
At first the stock of publications was stored on the top floor of the 
northeast tower of the National Museum, in which the Survey offices 
were located. In 1883 additional quarters were obtained in the attic 
oi a business building. Since 1881, when the Geological Survey first 
occupied its present quarters, all documents have been stored in the 
basement of the same building. 
The law requires that some of the Survey publications shall be sold 
and the mone} 7 be turned into the Treasury; that others may be 
Bxchanged for the scientific publications of individuals and institu- 
tions; that others shall be sent to designated public libraries and insti- 
tutions; and that still others shall be distributed free. The record of 
all these transactions is voluminous. Excepting topographic maps 
and geologic folios, Members of Congress receive and distribute their 
quotas of Survey documents through the Congressional folding and 
document rooms. 
The growth of the Survey, its value as a factor in the development 
of the economic resources of the country, and the service it renders 
the people are shown by the man} 7 thousand letters received yearl} 7 
requesting the publications of the Survey; and the number is constantly 
increasing. Through this correspondence the office comes directly in 
contact with the public. As it is the unvarying practice to answer all 
communications, the correspondence and other duties of this section, 
which at first occupied but a small portion of the time of the chief clerk, 
now require the services of a chief of division and 11 assistants. Dur- 
ing the fiscal year 1881-82 about 3,700 communications were answered, 
while in 1902-3 the number mailed was 109,686. 
In 1897 Congress enacted laws providing for the distribution, by 
sale, of the map sheets of the topographic atlas of the United States. 
Since that time the number of maps distributed yearly has rapidly 
