Under the organic law of the Geological Survey, investigations in economic geology are restricted to those States and Territories in which there are public lands; the extension of the work into the eastern portion of the United States included only that part relating to general geology. Two mining divisions are organized. One, in charge of Mr. George F. Becker, with headquarters at San Francisco, California, is at the present time engaged in the study of the quicksilver districts of California. The other, under charge of Mr. S.F. Emmons, with headquarters at Denver, Colorado, is engaged in studying various mining districts in that State, including silver, gold, iron, and coal areas. Each division has a corps of assistants. The lignite coals of the upper Missouri, also, are under investigation by Mr. Bailey Willis, with a corps of assistants.
EMPLOYES.
The employes on the Geological Survey at the close of September, 1884, were as follows:
Appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate (Director), 1.
Appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, on the recommendation of the Director of the Survey, 134.
Employed by the chiefs of parties in the field, 148.
APPOINTMENTS.
Three classes of appointments are made on the Survey. The statute provides that "the scientific employes of the Geological Survey shall be selected by the Director, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, exclusively for their qualifications as professional experts." The provisions of this statute apply to all those cases where scientific men are employed who have established a reputation, and in asking for their appointment the Director specifically states his reasons, setting forth the work in which the person is to be employed, together with his qualifications, especially enumerating and characterizing his published works. On such recommendations appointments are invariably made. Young men who have not established a reputation in scientific research are selected through the agency of the Civil Service Commission on special examination, the papers for which are prepared in the Geological Survey. About one-half of the employes, however, are temporary, being engaged for services lasting for a few days or a few months only, largely in the field, and coming under two classes: Skilled laborers and common laborers. Such persons are employed by the Director or by the heads of divisions, and are discharged from the service when no longer needed. It will be seen that the Director is responsible for the selection of the employes, directly for those whom he recommends for appointment, and indirectly for those selected by the Civil Service Commission, as he permanently retains in the work. If, then, improper persons are employed, it is wholly the Director's fault.
The appropriations made for the Geological Survey for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, aggregate the sum of $504,040. This sum does not include the amount appropriated for ethnologic researches—$40,000. Nor are the expenses for engraving and printing paid for from the above appropriations, but from appropriations made for the work under the direction of the public printer. It is estimated that the amount needed for engraving and printing for the same fiscal year will exceed $200,000.