Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/29

Rh side of the Saint Francis River in a point opposite the city of Little Rock, on the north bank of the Arkansas River, called "Argenta"—91 miles—was accepted by the Department on the 5th of last March.

The geological and geographical survey of the Territories of the United States, under the direction of this Department, and conducted by Professor F. V. Hayden, United States Geologist, has been continued during the past season with very satisfactory results. The section of country traversed by the survey lies in the central portion of Colorado Territory, lying between parallels 38° and 40° 20' north, and meridians 104° 30' and 107° west, comprising about 20,000 square miles. This area was divided into three districts, and the survey of each intrusted to a party of geologists and topographers. The northern district included the Middle Park; the middle district, the South Park; and the southern district, the San Luis Valley. The whole area, which is about 160 miles long by 130 wide, embraces the most interesting ranges of mountains and the largest group of lofty peaks yet explored on this continent. Besides the parties already referred to, three other parties were in the field, one of which carried on the primary triangulations from the summits of the most important peaks in the area of the survey. These several parties composed, altogether, a complete organization for the purposes of the survey.

A preliminary field-map was prepared last spring, based upon the land surveys made by this Department, which indicated those portions of our territorial domain which were least known, and which promised the most valuable results. The Held-work was commenced about the middle of May last, and the parties have all returned from the scene of their labors. The results of the survey are very satisfactory, and the collections in geology, botany, and natural history are as extensive and valuable as those of former surveys.

The geologist in charge requests a deficiency appropriation, to enable him to continue and complete the work of the year, and assigns the following reasons for the occurrence of the necessity for such an appropriation, viz:

The geological survey of the unknown portions of the national domain, especially in the mountainous localities, and those remote from routes of ordinary travel, involves a large expenditure for what is known as an "outfit." In former surveys the materials composing the "outfit" have been sold at the close of the season, for a fair percentage upon their cost; but, at the close of the present season, it was found that the "outfit" could not be sold except at a great sacrifice. It was, therefore, deemed advisable to retain the "outfit" for use during the season of 1874, should Congress authorize a continuation of the survey. The estimated value of the materials of said "outfit" is 820,000, and the