GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, UNITED STATES. The United States Geological Survey, a bureau of the Department of the Interior, is charged with the investigation of the geological structure and mineral resources of the country. The bureau was organized in 1879 as a consolidation of the independent surveys that had been active for sev eral years in exploring the Western States and Territories. In 1867 Clarence King organized a geological expedition for the examination of a belt of country including the fortieth parallel, and ex tending across the Rocky Mountains from Wyo ming to California. In the same year the General Government commissioned F. V. Hayden, who had previously been attached as scientist to exploring parties in the West, to make a survey of Nebras ka. The exploration of territory west of the one hundredth meridian and of the Colorado basin was provided for by the Government in 1871, and the expeditions were placed under the direction of George W. Wheeler and J. W. Powell. The four organizations, popularly known as the King, Hayden, Wheeler, and Powell surveys, fulfilled an important mission in the scientific investiga tion of a vast and little known territory. As the scope of operations was extended, however, it became evident that the work could be conducted to better advantage under a uniform system. A plan for unifying the service was proposed by the National Academy of Sciences and finally adopted by Congress in 1879, when the independent sur veys were discontinued. The control of the new organization, known as the Geological Survey, was placed in the hands of a director, who was required to submit an annual report of plans and operations of the Survey to the Secretary of the Interior.
The functions of the Geological Survey, as originally outlined by law of Congress, with sub sequent modifications, include the preparation of a topographic map of the United States; the in vestigation and mapping of the areal geology; the examination of mineral deposits; the collection of mineral statistics; the study of hydrography with reference to water-power and the irrigation of arid regions; and the classification of public lands. The preparation of the topographic map,
a necessary preliminary to the geologic and hydro graphic work, is carried on by the topographic branch of the Survey. At the beginning of 1902 a total area of 895,673 square miles. or 29 per cent. of the entire area, exclusive of Alaska, had been surveyed upon scales of one, two, and four miles to the inch, varying with the importance of the different regions. When completed the topographic map will give an accurate presen tation of the surface features of the country. The geologic branch of the Survey investigates and maps the geological formations. The map, as rapidly as completed, is issued in folios; it shows the areal distribution of the various rocks, their geological structure, and the location of mineral resources. For the purpose of con ducting special investigations of scientific or eco nomic value, the geologic branch is organized in divisions, each of which covers a particular field.
The divisions are here given as illustrating the general scope of this work: Areal geology; Pleis tocene geology; pre-Cambrian and metamorphic geology; metalliferous ores; non-metalliferous products; paleontology; mining and mineral re sources; physical and chemical research. The results of the work along these varied lines have been the accumulation of much new information relative to geological science and the furthering of the material interests of the country. The pub lications issued by the Geological Survey for general distribution include the director's report (annual), monographs, bulletins, and special papers. Consult Walcott, The United States Geological Survey (Washington, 1895).