PHYSICAL RESEARCHES.

There is a physical laboratory in the Survey, with a small corps of men engaged in certain physical researches of prime importance to geologic philosophy.  These researches are experimental, and relate to the effect of temperatures, pressures, etc., on rocks.  This laboratory is under the charge of the chief chemist.

LITHOLOGY.

There is a lithologic laboratory in the Survey, with a large corps of lithologists engaged in the microscopic study of rocks.  These lithologists are field geologists, who examine the collections made by themselves.

STATISTICS.

There is in the Survey a division of mining statistics, with a large corps of men engaged in statistic work, the results of which are published in an annual report entitled “Mineral Resources.”  Mr. Albert Williams, Jr., is the Chief Statistician of the Survey.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

There is in the Survey a division organized for the purpose of preparing illustrations for paleontologic and geologic reports.  Mr. W.H.  Holmes is in charge of this division.  Illustrations will not hereafter be used for embellishment, but will be strictly confined to the illustration of the text and the presentation of such facts as can be best exhibited by figures and diagrams.  All illustrations will, as far as possible, be produced by relief methods, such as wood-engraving, photo-engraving, etc.  As large numbers of the reports of the Survey are published, this plan is demanded for economic reasons; but there is another consideration believed to be of still greater importance; illustrations made on stone cannot be used after the first edition, as they deteriorate somewhat by time, and it is customary to use the same lithographic stone for various purposes from time to time.  The illustrations made for the reports of the Survey, if on relief-plates that can be cheaply electrotyped, can be used again when needed.  This is especially desirable in paleontology, where previously published figures can be introduced for comparative purposes.  There are two methods of studying the extinct life of the globe.  Fossils are indices of geological formations, and must be grouped by formations to subserve the purpose of geologists.  Fossils also have their biologic relations, and should be studied and arranged in biologic groups.  Under the plan adopted by the Survey, the illustrations can be used over and over again for such purposes when needed, as reproduction can be made at the small cost of electrotyping.  These same illustrations can be used by the public at large in scientific periodicals, text-books, etc.  All the illustrations made by the Geological Survey are held for the public to be used in this manner.

LIBRARY.