PLATE I. Map of United States, showing areas covered by geologic surveys

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II. Map of United States, showing areas covered by topographic

surveys

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THIRTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director.

The appropriations for the work of the United States Geological Survey for the fiscal year 1908-9 comprised items amounting to $1,590,680. The plan of operations was approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a detailed statement of the work of the various branches and divisions of the Survey is presented on later pages of this report.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE WORK.

PROGRESS IN LAND CLASSIFICATION.

Land classification in aid of the administration of the public lands has been for several years and is now actively prosecuted by the Geological Survey, and reports setting forth in detail the mineral or nonmineral character of public lands of which the Survey has made actual field examination are being transmitted to the General Land Office.

Another and more recent line of activity in land classification is the segregation of nonirrigable lands under the terms of the enlarged homestead act of February 19, 1909. The recommendations of the Geological Survey on which the Secretary of the Interior bases his designations have not depended on surveys made for this specific purpose, but on data collected through a period of many years by federal geologists and engineers. The existence of this information whereby, within the few months since the enactment of the law, the Secretary has been able to designate areas in 9 States and Territories aggregating 162,000,000 acres, is in itself a forceful argument for a land classification that is complete and authoritative.

This classification of the public lands serves two important ends, one administrative, the other legislative, and it is believed that both were contemplated by Congress at the time of the creation of the Survey. The classification of the public domain and the investigation of its resources not only facilitate the work of fulfilling the

requirements of existing law, but also furnish Congress with data on which to base new legislation and particularly aid in the development in the land laws of the principle of relative worth, which is that the land must be so disposed of or so reserved as to insure utilization for the purposes for which it is most valuable. No principle is more fundamental to real conservation and at the same time more beneficial to the mining and other industries than this of giving preference to the highest possible use for the public lands. The earliest land laws, those of a century ago, provided for the reservation of mineral lands from disposal for other purposes, and the present coal-land law expresses this principle of relative worth by giving gold, silver, and copper deposits priority over the coal, and coal in turn preference over agricultural values. With classification data at hand the principle of relative worth can be further developed. Wherever the different values conflict the higher use should prevail. On the other hand, wherever the different values can be separated that separation by appropriate legislation is at once the easiest and best solution of the problem; for instance, the surface rights may be separated from the right to mine underlying beds of coal. The first step in this direction was taken in March of this year in the passage of the Mondell Act for the protection of the surface rights of entrymen, whereby the homeseeker may secure all for which he made entry-all that he swears he is getting-while the coal beneath his tillable land is reserved to the nation for future disposal. Land legislation of the future should strengthen this principle of relative worth where it already exists in law and introduce it further in all new legislation. As an instance where thorough knowledge of the character of a special public-land tract with its strategic relation to the hydrography of the region enabled the Department of the Interior to aid Congress may be cited the act of February 20, 1909, reserving for public use eight sections of waste land in southern California. The law provides that this land shall be used for the diversion of flood waters into underground storage, thereby replenishing the supply of underground waters in the San Bernardino Valley. While apparently of .only local scope, the principle established in this legislation is really of great importance as providing a course of action that will be found adaptable elsewhere in securing effective conservation of flood waters.

Hydrographic and topographic surveys which are now in progress under the instructions of the Secretary of the Interior have as their purpose the collection of information that may be presented to Congress in aid of legislation looking toward the best utilization of the water powers of the public domain. The information available as to the undeveloped water powers of the United States is far from complete, but to a very large extent it represents the work of the

water-resources and topographic branches of the Geological Survey. With these earlier records and surveys as a basis the Survey is now actively engaged in examining power sites to which the Government still retains the title. Those who are making this study of the water-power problem fully realize that economical utilization of these natural stores of energy requires their development on a large scale, with the investment of capital in large amounts. The day is past for inexpensive developments where only the minimum flow is used and that inefficiently. With the present demand for unfailing power in mind, we need not look far into the future. to se storage as a universal factor in water-power development. Utilization of the undeveloped water powers on the public domain, therefore, involves either government development or long-time lease ; of these power sites to strong financial interests, and in the latter event the law must provide for effective government control which will insure that the profit to the capital accomplishing the development can not impose unjust burdens on the users of the power, whether the utilization be for transportation, city lighting, or motive power.

The purpose of the coal land classification surveys is twofold-to expedite complete restoration to agricultural entry of land thus determined to be barren of coal although included in the general withdrawals, and to promote the utilization of the coal lands, which to-day represent the greatest natural resource to which the people retain an unquestioned title. The geologic investigations of the last three field seasons have not only furnished a knowledge of the quantity and quality of the coal on the public domain, but have rendered possible the present policy of obtaining coal prices for coal lands. The General Land Office now depends on the Geological Survey to furnish detailed valuations for every 40-acre tract of coal land that is placed on the market. It is conceded that this policy of basing the price on the quantity and quality of the article sold will discourage purchase by speculators, but there is no reason to believe that the government valuation will impede the disposition of the coal deposits for purposes of utilization. The real development of the West will be promoted, not retarded. The situation is clearly viewed by the editor of a western mining journal, who has recently stated that this increase in valuation "can produce but one result-the lands will be sold only as they are actually needed for mining purposes. This should reduce the danger of monopoly, without promoting overproduction and wasteful competition. In the end it should give future generations cheaper coal. The unearned increment will go in part to the nation rather than to individuals." If a scientific classification and adequate valuation of the coal lands will accomplish all this, what more can be asked?