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Story
July 11, 1883
National Republican (Washington City
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
The U.S. Geological Survey, directed by Prof. J.W. Powell, details plans for the 1883-84 fiscal year, allocating $304,700 across districts for topographic, geologic, mining geology, and paleontological work, including personnel and specific projects in various U.S. regions.
Merged-components note: These two components continue a single detailed story on the U.S. Geological Survey's operations and budget for the fiscal year 1883-'84, spanning pages 1 and 2. Original labels were 'story' and 'domestic_news'; merged and relabeled as 'story' for the narrative focus on government scientific endeavors.
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SPYING OUT THE LAND
Director Powell, of the Government Survey, Maps Out the Full Summer Campaign.
How Three Hundred Thousand Dollars Are to be Expended.
The Rock Breakers and Map Makers Getting Ready For Their Tramps Into the Wilderness.
A Good Season's Work Anticipated—The Personnel of the Service.
The secretary of the interior has examined and approved of the plans of proposed operations to be conducted by the United States survey during the fiscal year 1883-'84, submitted at his request by Prof. J. W. Powell, director of the survey. The amount appropriated for this work was $304,700. For convenience of reference Prof. Powell has provisionally divided the territory of the United States into districts as follows: North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Mississippi, South Mississippi, Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, and Pacific. The geographic work is laid out as follows:
It is proposed that the work of the north Atlantic district shall be under the direction of Henry F. Walling, assisted by W. T. Griswold, J. A. Molar, J. S. Hopper, Walter Reed, and R. D. Shepherd. The one to be surveyed comprises a portion of the state of Massachusetts, commencing near the western boundary of the state and extending eastward as far as the season will permit. Probably two-thirds of the state will be covered. Amount allotted, $7,000.
It is proposed to extend the system of topographic work in the south Atlantic district, begun in the field season of 1882, under the direction of W. C. Kerr. Mr. Kerr will be assisted by S. S. Garnett, E. V. Van Eltorn, G. F. Wakefield, S. J. Wilson, J. H. Gore, and H. L. Reynolds. Five topographical parties will be attached to this division. Party No. 1, in charge of C. M. Yeates, will extend the area surveyed during the past season in the mountain region of North Carolina. Party No. 2, Norris Bien in charge, will extend the work southwestward in the mountain region of North Carolina and the great valley of Virginia. Party No. 3, F. M. Pearson in charge, will work in that portion of the valley of the Tennessee, lying within the limits of the state of Tennessee. Party No. 4, W. A. Shunway in charge, will cover the territory included in southern and western Virginia, lying between the Kanawha and Big Sandy rivers, and that portion of eastern Kentucky bordering upon the latter stream. The field of work of party No. 5, under charge of Sumner H. Bodfish, will lie in western Maryland and northeastern Virginia, and will comprise in general terms the country about the headwaters of the Potomac. Cost, $38,500.
If it should be found advantageous to conduct topographic operations in the north and south Mississippi districts later on, plans will be submitted to the secretary for his approval.
It is proposed that several independent topographic parties occupy the Rocky mountain district during the coming field season. The triangular and plane table work of the Yellowstone park division will be under the direction of John H. Renshawe. Cost $7,500.
The topographic work in Colorado will be under the direction of Anton Karl. The first part of the field season will be devoted by Mr. Karl to the survey of the Gunnison county. When this is done, or the parties should be driven out by the snow before it is completed, Mr. Karl will take up the work on the maps of a region of country at the east base of the Rocky mountains in Colorado, extending northward and southward from Denver about twenty miles, and including, as is well known, very valuable deposits of coal. Cost, $6,200.
In western New Mexico, southeastern Utah, and northeastern Arizona it is proposed to place topographic operations under the direction of Prof. A. H. Thompson; cost, $21,000.
It is proposed to continue the topographic work begun last year in the region of the Cascade range, the field extending from latitude 40° north to the northern boundary of California, and from the axis of the Coast range to the western boundary of the state. Should the season permit work will be extended into Oregon. The work will be under the direction of Gilbert Thompson. Cost, $13,600. In connection with the geologic investigations of the quicksilver deposits, topographic maps of these regions are being prepared. Upon the completion of this branch of the work it is proposed to have the gentlemen engaged upon it to commence a detailed survey of the gold belt of the Sierra Nevada, under the direction of John D. Hoffman. Cost, $6,350.
The geologic work is mapped out as follows:
In the absence of topographic maps the prosecution of geologic work in the north Atlantic district is postponed for the time being.
It is proposed to place three small parties in the South Atlantic district. The first, in charge of Lawrence C. Johnson, will make an examination of the cretaceous and tertiary formations in Alabama and Mississippi. It is proposed to place party No. 2, under charge of Ira Sayles, who will be directed to make geologic studies of and collections in the paleozoic formation in the southern Appalachian region. The third party will be under charge of H. R. Geiger, who will be instructed to make geologic study of and collections in the paleozoic and ezoic formations in the southern Appalachians of Virginia and West Virginia. Cost of whole, $6,500.
In the northwestern portion of the North Mississippi district it is proposed that the work shall be conducted as formerly, under the direction of Prof. Roland D. Irving. Under Mr. Chauvenet the preparation of two cross sections from Lake Superior to the national boundary line in the region of Grand Marais, and the mapping of the region around Gunflint and Saganaga will be undertaken. Prof. Hall's party will do general geologic work in Minnesota, southwest from the Mississippi. Prof. Daniels will examine certain outcrops in northern central Wisconsin and northeast Minnesota, east of the Mississippi and south of Mille Lacs. Prof. Irving proposes himself to examine the original Huronian rocks in the neighborhood of Sault Ste. Marie, along the national boundary from the Lake of the Woods to Lake Superior, and in the Marquette and Menominee regions of the northern peninsula of Michigan. Cost, $8,000.
The quaternary investigations will be continued under the direction of Prof. T. C. Chamberlin. The special subjects of immediate attention to the completion of subjects already begun are the following:
1. An examination of the outer margin of the drift bearing area.
2. The determination of trustworthy criteria for discriminating between the several form of subaquous deposits.
3. The various functions performed by fluviatile agencies before, during, and after the glacial period.
4. The relative amount of erosion suffered by the later drift.
5. The relation of the loess to the earlier and later drift.
6. The relation of the morainic to the lacustrine deposits of the St. Lawrence valley and the causes of their mutual limitations.
7. Measurements of the residuary clays and disintegrated rocks in the driftless area.
In the upper Missouri district it is proposed to put a small party under charge of F. V. Hayden to examine into certain cretacean of the fossils of the Smithsonian Institution. (Cost, $7,500.)
The geologic work of the district of the Rocky Mountains and Yellowstone Park will be placed in charge of Arnold Hague, and the hope is expressed that William Hale, of New Haven, may be spared for a few months to conduct certain physical examinations of the geysers. Allotment, $15,000.
The work in the district of the Great Basin will be continued under the direction of G. K. Gilbert at an expense of $15,000. A party will visit Mono Valley, Cal., to complete the study of the ancient Mono Lake and the neighboring glaciers of the Sierras; to organize the study of the post-Lahontan displacements of the lake basin, and to establish four permanent barometric stations to determine the altitude of the Lahontan shore line at all points visited by the geologists.
Capt. C. E. Dutton, of the ordnance corps, will have charge of the work in the district of the Pacific, which will be to make investigations into the geology of the extinct volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains of northern California and Oregon. Cost, $8,000.
The sum of $21,500 is allotted for the prosecution of the mining geological investigations in the Rocky Mountains, a work which will be under the supervision of S. F. Emmons. One party will establish headquarters in Silver Cliff, Col., immediately, with instructions to complete the work as rapidly as possible, and then resume the examination of the Denver coal fields. The only mining investigation now being prosecuted on the Pacific slope region is the examination of the quicksilver districts under the direction of George F. Becker. It is proposed to continue this work at an estimated expense of $22,550. The districts now being made subjects of study on the slope are New Idria, New Almaden, Knoxville, and Sulphur Banks.
It is proposed to devote $16,000 to the collection of vertebrate fossils in the Rocky Mountains, under the direction of Prof. O. C. Marsh; $8,900 to the collection of invertebrate fossils, under direction of Charles W. Wolcott, and $10,000 to the collection of fossils of the Laramie group, a work being done under the oversight of Prof. C. A. White. J. B. Moreau will be assigned the duty of tracing the eastern boundary of the Laramie group in Kansas and Nebraska.
It is proposed to establish a chemical laboratory in the National Museum, plans for which will be submitted at an early day. Various recommendations for salaries, purchases of outfits, etc., are made, and in conclusion the professor presents the following summary of the amounts recommended to be allotted to the various districts and classes of work:
GEOGRAPHIC WORK.
North Atlantic district... $7,000
South Atlantic district... $38,500
Rocky Mountain district... $14,700
Pacific district... $19,950
$100,150
GEOLOGIC WORK.
South Atlantic district... $6,500
North Mississippi district... $8,000
Rocky Mountain district... $15,000
Great Basin and Pacific districts... $23,000
$69,000
MINING GEOLOGY.
Rocky Mountain division... $21,500
Pacific division... $22,550
$44,050
Paleontological work... $34,900
Miscellaneous... $6,300
Grand total... $304,700
Director Powell, of the Government Survey, Maps Out the Full Summer Campaign.
How Three Hundred Thousand Dollars Are to be Expended.
The Rock Breakers and Map Makers Getting Ready For Their Tramps Into the Wilderness.
A Good Season's Work Anticipated—The Personnel of the Service.
The secretary of the interior has examined and approved of the plans of proposed operations to be conducted by the United States survey during the fiscal year 1883-'84, submitted at his request by Prof. J. W. Powell, director of the survey. The amount appropriated for this work was $304,700. For convenience of reference Prof. Powell has provisionally divided the territory of the United States into districts as follows: North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Mississippi, South Mississippi, Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, and Pacific. The geographic work is laid out as follows:
It is proposed that the work of the north Atlantic district shall be under the direction of Henry F. Walling, assisted by W. T. Griswold, J. A. Molar, J. S. Hopper, Walter Reed, and R. D. Shepherd. The one to be surveyed comprises a portion of the state of Massachusetts, commencing near the western boundary of the state and extending eastward as far as the season will permit. Probably two-thirds of the state will be covered. Amount allotted, $7,000.
It is proposed to extend the system of topographic work in the south Atlantic district, begun in the field season of 1882, under the direction of W. C. Kerr. Mr. Kerr will be assisted by S. S. Garnett, E. V. Van Eltorn, G. F. Wakefield, S. J. Wilson, J. H. Gore, and H. L. Reynolds. Five topographical parties will be attached to this division. Party No. 1, in charge of C. M. Yeates, will extend the area surveyed during the past season in the mountain region of North Carolina. Party No. 2, Norris Bien in charge, will extend the work southwestward in the mountain region of North Carolina and the great valley of Virginia. Party No. 3, F. M. Pearson in charge, will work in that portion of the valley of the Tennessee, lying within the limits of the state of Tennessee. Party No. 4, W. A. Shunway in charge, will cover the territory included in southern and western Virginia, lying between the Kanawha and Big Sandy rivers, and that portion of eastern Kentucky bordering upon the latter stream. The field of work of party No. 5, under charge of Sumner H. Bodfish, will lie in western Maryland and northeastern Virginia, and will comprise in general terms the country about the headwaters of the Potomac. Cost, $38,500.
If it should be found advantageous to conduct topographic operations in the north and south Mississippi districts later on, plans will be submitted to the secretary for his approval.
It is proposed that several independent topographic parties occupy the Rocky mountain district during the coming field season. The triangular and plane table work of the Yellowstone park division will be under the direction of John H. Renshawe. Cost $7,500.
The topographic work in Colorado will be under the direction of Anton Karl. The first part of the field season will be devoted by Mr. Karl to the survey of the Gunnison county. When this is done, or the parties should be driven out by the snow before it is completed, Mr. Karl will take up the work on the maps of a region of country at the east base of the Rocky mountains in Colorado, extending northward and southward from Denver about twenty miles, and including, as is well known, very valuable deposits of coal. Cost, $6,200.
In western New Mexico, southeastern Utah, and northeastern Arizona it is proposed to place topographic operations under the direction of Prof. A. H. Thompson; cost, $21,000.
It is proposed to continue the topographic work begun last year in the region of the Cascade range, the field extending from latitude 40° north to the northern boundary of California, and from the axis of the Coast range to the western boundary of the state. Should the season permit work will be extended into Oregon. The work will be under the direction of Gilbert Thompson. Cost, $13,600. In connection with the geologic investigations of the quicksilver deposits, topographic maps of these regions are being prepared. Upon the completion of this branch of the work it is proposed to have the gentlemen engaged upon it to commence a detailed survey of the gold belt of the Sierra Nevada, under the direction of John D. Hoffman. Cost, $6,350.
The geologic work is mapped out as follows:
In the absence of topographic maps the prosecution of geologic work in the north Atlantic district is postponed for the time being.
It is proposed to place three small parties in the South Atlantic district. The first, in charge of Lawrence C. Johnson, will make an examination of the cretaceous and tertiary formations in Alabama and Mississippi. It is proposed to place party No. 2, under charge of Ira Sayles, who will be directed to make geologic studies of and collections in the paleozoic formation in the southern Appalachian region. The third party will be under charge of H. R. Geiger, who will be instructed to make geologic study of and collections in the paleozoic and ezoic formations in the southern Appalachians of Virginia and West Virginia. Cost of whole, $6,500.
In the northwestern portion of the North Mississippi district it is proposed that the work shall be conducted as formerly, under the direction of Prof. Roland D. Irving. Under Mr. Chauvenet the preparation of two cross sections from Lake Superior to the national boundary line in the region of Grand Marais, and the mapping of the region around Gunflint and Saganaga will be undertaken. Prof. Hall's party will do general geologic work in Minnesota, southwest from the Mississippi. Prof. Daniels will examine certain outcrops in northern central Wisconsin and northeast Minnesota, east of the Mississippi and south of Mille Lacs. Prof. Irving proposes himself to examine the original Huronian rocks in the neighborhood of Sault Ste. Marie, along the national boundary from the Lake of the Woods to Lake Superior, and in the Marquette and Menominee regions of the northern peninsula of Michigan. Cost, $8,000.
The quaternary investigations will be continued under the direction of Prof. T. C. Chamberlin. The special subjects of immediate attention to the completion of subjects already begun are the following:
1. An examination of the outer margin of the drift bearing area.
2. The determination of trustworthy criteria for discriminating between the several form of subaquous deposits.
3. The various functions performed by fluviatile agencies before, during, and after the glacial period.
4. The relative amount of erosion suffered by the later drift.
5. The relation of the loess to the earlier and later drift.
6. The relation of the morainic to the lacustrine deposits of the St. Lawrence valley and the causes of their mutual limitations.
7. Measurements of the residuary clays and disintegrated rocks in the driftless area.
In the upper Missouri district it is proposed to put a small party under charge of F. V. Hayden to examine into certain cretacean of the fossils of the Smithsonian Institution. (Cost, $7,500.)
The geologic work of the district of the Rocky Mountains and Yellowstone Park will be placed in charge of Arnold Hague, and the hope is expressed that William Hale, of New Haven, may be spared for a few months to conduct certain physical examinations of the geysers. Allotment, $15,000.
The work in the district of the Great Basin will be continued under the direction of G. K. Gilbert at an expense of $15,000. A party will visit Mono Valley, Cal., to complete the study of the ancient Mono Lake and the neighboring glaciers of the Sierras; to organize the study of the post-Lahontan displacements of the lake basin, and to establish four permanent barometric stations to determine the altitude of the Lahontan shore line at all points visited by the geologists.
Capt. C. E. Dutton, of the ordnance corps, will have charge of the work in the district of the Pacific, which will be to make investigations into the geology of the extinct volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains of northern California and Oregon. Cost, $8,000.
The sum of $21,500 is allotted for the prosecution of the mining geological investigations in the Rocky Mountains, a work which will be under the supervision of S. F. Emmons. One party will establish headquarters in Silver Cliff, Col., immediately, with instructions to complete the work as rapidly as possible, and then resume the examination of the Denver coal fields. The only mining investigation now being prosecuted on the Pacific slope region is the examination of the quicksilver districts under the direction of George F. Becker. It is proposed to continue this work at an estimated expense of $22,550. The districts now being made subjects of study on the slope are New Idria, New Almaden, Knoxville, and Sulphur Banks.
It is proposed to devote $16,000 to the collection of vertebrate fossils in the Rocky Mountains, under the direction of Prof. O. C. Marsh; $8,900 to the collection of invertebrate fossils, under direction of Charles W. Wolcott, and $10,000 to the collection of fossils of the Laramie group, a work being done under the oversight of Prof. C. A. White. J. B. Moreau will be assigned the duty of tracing the eastern boundary of the Laramie group in Kansas and Nebraska.
It is proposed to establish a chemical laboratory in the National Museum, plans for which will be submitted at an early day. Various recommendations for salaries, purchases of outfits, etc., are made, and in conclusion the professor presents the following summary of the amounts recommended to be allotted to the various districts and classes of work:
GEOGRAPHIC WORK.
North Atlantic district... $7,000
South Atlantic district... $38,500
Rocky Mountain district... $14,700
Pacific district... $19,950
$100,150
GEOLOGIC WORK.
South Atlantic district... $6,500
North Mississippi district... $8,000
Rocky Mountain district... $15,000
Great Basin and Pacific districts... $23,000
$69,000
MINING GEOLOGY.
Rocky Mountain division... $21,500
Pacific division... $22,550
$44,050
Paleontological work... $34,900
Miscellaneous... $6,300
Grand total... $304,700
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Journey
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Exploration
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Geological Survey
Topographic Work
Geologic Investigations
Mining Geology
Paleontology
Budget Allocation
Us Districts
What entities or persons were involved?
Prof. J. W. Powell
Henry F. Walling
W. C. Kerr
John H. Renshawe
Anton Karl
Prof. A. H. Thompson
Gilbert Thompson
Prof. Roland D. Irving
Prof. T. C. Chamberlin
Arnold Hague
G. K. Gilbert
Capt. C. E. Dutton
S. F. Emmons
George F. Becker
Prof. O. C. Marsh
Charles W. Wolcott
Prof. C. A. White
Where did it happen?
United States Districts: North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Mississippi, South Mississippi, Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, Pacific
Story Details
Key Persons
Prof. J. W. Powell
Henry F. Walling
W. C. Kerr
John H. Renshawe
Anton Karl
Prof. A. H. Thompson
Gilbert Thompson
Prof. Roland D. Irving
Prof. T. C. Chamberlin
Arnold Hague
G. K. Gilbert
Capt. C. E. Dutton
S. F. Emmons
George F. Becker
Prof. O. C. Marsh
Charles W. Wolcott
Prof. C. A. White
Location
United States Districts: North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Mississippi, South Mississippi, Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, Pacific
Event Date
Fiscal Year 1883 '84
Story Details
Prof. J.W. Powell outlines approved plans for U.S. Geological Survey operations, dividing work into geographic, geologic, mining, and paleontological categories across districts, detailing personnel, specific surveys, and budget allocations totaling $304,700.