118 THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. [bull, 
increased. In the fiscal year L896 !>7 returns from sales of . topographic 
maps amounted to $505.77; in the year 1902-3 the sum was $7,071.50. 
Over 1,300 maps are now carried in stock. The maps are stored 
according to geographic sections, so as to facilitate the filling of 
orders. Many of the orders are vague and uncertain, and frequent 
recourse must bo made to gazetteers, guides, and other reference 
books to locate the regions for which maps are wanted. 
At the beginning a card-index system of record was devised. On 
the cards are recorded, as required by law, the addresses of those to 
whom documents have been sent, what documents were sent, dates of 
sending, etc. 
To facilitate the distribution of the topographic maps, and for the 
convenience of the public, the Survey has appointed agents in the 
different States. These now number 76. The agents agree to carry 
in stock maps of areas in their immediate vicinity. This enables per- 
sons who have need of maps to make personal examination of them 
before purchasing, and to procure copies at once, avoiding the delay 
incident to correspondence. 
To give adequate publicity regarding the documents and maps issued 
by the Survey, card notices and circulars were formerly prepared and 
mailed to correspondents, scientists, and others interested, the mailing 
occupying a considerable portion of the time of one clerk. It was soon 
learned, however, that the press of the country would be glad to print 
news items and short notices of publications, and since 1902 the Survey 
has prepared and issued weekly a press bulletin. The work connected 
therewith was assigned to the document division, and ah editorial 
clerk was appointed to prepare the news notes and review notices. 
Prior to June 30, 1903, nearly 4,000,000 copies of publications, folios, 
and maps were distributed by the document division. Of that number 
2,716,652 were distributed during the last five years, while in the five 
3^ears prior the number Avas 966,875, a total of 3,683,527 for ten years, 
or 92 per cent of the entire distribution during the twenty -five y ears 
the Survey has been in existence. During the fiscal years 1899-1903, 
a period of four years, 346,119 letters were mailed by the document 
division, this being over 50 per cent of the entire number sent prior 
thereto. These statements attest the growing public interest in the 
work of and the results achieved by the Survey. 
