Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1876.djvu/26

XXII In the region embraced in this survey a very small portion of the country cau be redeemed by irrigation for agriculture, and no part of it can be cultivated without irrigation. It appears from the reports that less than one per cent, can thus be made available. Especial care has been given to the determination of the extent of such lands so as to exhibit their position on the maps.

Having in view economy and convenience in the linear surveys of this district, the geodetic points of the general geographic survey under the direction of Professor Powell have been carefully marked that they may- hereafter be used as datum-points by the officers of the General Land-Office.

Extensive coal-fields exist in the region surveyed, but, as in many-other parts of the world, these coal-fields are of practical value at comparatively few places. The general characteristics of these coal-fields have been the subject of much investigation, and some very interesting and valuable results have been reached. These will appear in the final reports. The quantity of available coal is practically inexhaustible, and the mines that can be economically worked are of great number.

In the Uinta Mountains silver and copper mines have been discovered and worked by private parties. The extent of these silver and copper bearing rocks has been determined, but their value can be established only by extensive working.

Under instructions from this Department, Professor Powell and his parties have also been engaged in general ethnographic work in the Bocky Mountain region. One of the special items in these instructions was the classification of the Indian tribes, such classification being not only of scientific interest but of importance in the administration of Indian affairs. For the eastern portion of the United States this work had been accomplished, first by the unofficial labors of Hon. Albert Gallatin, and subsequently continued by Hon. Henry R. Schoolcraft as an officer of the Government; and some additions had been made to this work by various persons for scientific purposes. This work has been renewed by Professor Powell, and has been pushed with all the energy possible with the funds at his command, and a large amount of material has been collected by himself and by members of his corps and by residents in and travelers through the country. In addition to this, a large amount has been collected by the Smithsonian Institution through various channels—materials as yet unpublished. The officers of that Institution have placed all this matter in the hands of Professor Powell, to be combined with his own collections. The first volume of the reports on this subject will soon be issued. It treats of the tribes of Alaska, the western half of Washington, and Northwestern Oregon, and is accompanied by maps exhibiting the geographic distribution of the tribes of these regions. A second volume, on the tribes of California, has also been sent to the Government Printer, which will be succeeded by others as rapidly as they can be prepared.