conception of the present use of photography in the Geological Survey, this increase of force must be considered in connection with the immense advantage gained by the use of electric light.

DIVISION OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING.

At first the appropriations for engraving and printing the topographic and geologic maps were under the control of the Public Printer, and the work was done under contract by the lowest responsible bidders. This practice was never entirely satisfactory. It not only resulted in lack of uniformity in the maps, but the system of letting contracts to the lowest bidder tended toward a low standard and poor work. When, in 1887, it became evident that the old classification and color symbolism for the geologic maps must be abandoned, the necessity for extensive study of and experimentation with colors and processes became manifest, in order that a satisfactory and enduring scheme might be devised and established. To such purpose the contract system could not be adapted, and it was seen to be necessary to establish within the Survey a division of engraving and printing.

The first legislative step in this direction was taken when Congress, by act of March 2, 1889, made an appropriation of $45,000 for engraving and printing the maps of the Geological Survey and placed the same under the control of the Director. The next step was the selection and appointment, in February, 1890, of a chief engraver, to organize within the Survey a division or engraving and printing.

At the end of the first year the division employed 6 persons and occupied one room on the fifth floor of the office building and a small room on the fourth floor for printing purposes. Its machinery consisted of two hand lithographic presses and one copperplate press. Within two years it had become necessary for it to occupy the greater part of the fifth floor, for the number of its employees had increased to 12, and the machinery of the plant had increased correspondingly. At the end of the fourth year the plant had grown to such proportions that it required a separate building, and in September, 1893, it became possible to secure one. In ten years the appropriation had increased to $60,000, and the number of employees to 68, and the building had been enlarged to double its original size. At present the appropriation is $100,000 per annum and the number of employees is 85, consisting of copperplate engravers, stone engravers, electrotypers, lithographers, lithographic printers, photolithographers, typesetters and type printers, and experts in the various processes of color printing, together with necessary assistants and laborers. The building occupied contains 18,540 square feet of floor space, and is equipped with the most modern machinery, each machine being operated by its own electric motor.

The plant consists of 7 power lithographic presses, 2 type presses,

Bull. 227-04-8

10 hand lithographic presses, stone planer, paper cutter, stitching machine, standing press, and a full equipment of tools and instruments necessary in the work.

During the present year (1904) expansion of the division is once more in progress because of the increased work and appropriation. To gain time for proper reorganization and the selection of the additional expert workmen necessary, and, in the meantime, to meet largely increased demands, it has once more become necessary to have the engraving of a small number of topographic atlas sheets done by private parties, but in every respect the plates will be uniform with those engraved in the office. The expedient is but temporary, and it is expected that at the end of a few months the office force will again be equal to all demands.

Copperplate engraving is the fundamental and chief art or process employed in reproducing the topographic maps, and to this all the others are auxiliary. Though its first cost is greatest, it is the most accurate and the only method of reproduction which admits of multiplication by electrotyping. As the topographic atlas sheets are printed in three colors-blue, brown and black-representing respectively drainage, relief, and culture features, the engraving must be done in part on each of three copper plates.

The manuscript drawing, which is to be reproduced on the plates, is usually in three colors and on a scale somewhat larger than that of the engraving. Preliminary to engraving a sheet, a true copy on the scale of publication must in some way be transferred to each of the three copper plates. There are several methods by which this may be done. That formerly in use required that a thin sheet of transparent celluloid or gelatine be placed over the drawing provided it were on the scale of publication, otherwise, over a photograph reduced to scale-and that an expert trace every line, cutting it into the celluloid or gelatine. These lines were filled with sulphur, and by burnishing, were stained on the copperplates. The process was tedious and comparatively expensive, and, like all manual work, was subject to errors and omissions.

The process now in use is photomechanical and was devised a few years ago by employees of this office. By this process the lines from a photographic negative of the manuscript map are stained on the copper plates and an absolutely accurate reproduction of the original is produced at a cost which is trifling in comparison with hand tracing. When the engraving has been completed an impression of each of the engraved plates is transferred to a lithographic stone, and from these stones the maps are printed. These arts and processes-photographing, engraving, lithographing, and printing-are all applied within the division.

The base of the geologic map is the topographic map. The topographic base once engraved, the additional copperplate engraving required for the geologic folio is comparatively small. At first it was necessary to engrave many plates of designs for color printing. But the number of these designs is limited, and, once engraved, the pattern plates may be used indefinitely by transferring to lithographic stones areas to fit any required boundaries and printing in any desired colors. For the geologic atlas sheet, however, the cultural or black plate of the topographic sheet is electroty ped, and upon this electrotype are engraved geologic boundaries, symbols, formation letters, and other data. The structure sections and columnar sections also are engraved. Each folio includes, besides these, descriptive text, which requires the application of the typesetting and type-printing art. Therefore, in producing a geologic folio, recourse is had to the arts of photography, engraving, electrotyping, type setting and type printing, stone engraving, stone transferring, photolithography, and other similar arts, the greatest portion of the work falling upon the lithographic branch.

At various times different processes have been tried for map reproducing, but the only important one to become permanent is photolithography. This is used to great advantage in making available new maps prior to their engraving, in publishing maps for special purposes, in reproducing land plats, and in aiding topographers and draftsmen to make reductions and compilations, as well as for many other purposes.

When appointed, the chief engraver was made the custodian of the engraved copperplates for 240 topographic atlas sheets, the plates of a wall map of the United States, and those of a wall map of Massachusetts, which had been engraved under the contract system. The first of these contracts was awarded to a New York firm for the engraving of 100 atlas sheets, in 1884, and during the next five years these 240 sheets were engraved.

The energies of the new division were at first devoted largely to correcting the plates already engraved, to engraving color-pattern plates, and to experimentation for the geologic maps. Though the engraving of topographic atlas sheets by contract was continued for five years more, the proportion engraved in the office grew rapidly from year to year. In the first year of its organization only two atlas sheets were engraved in the office; during the third year one-third of all the engraving was done in the office; at the end of five years (July 1, 1894) the last contract had been completed, and since then practically all the work has been done in the division.

In the fiscal year 1889-90 there were engraved by the division 2 topographic atlas sheets; ten years later, in 1899-1900, there were engraved 72 sheets; last year (1902-3), 101. The total number of such plates engraved by contractors and office force to date is 1,450.

The cost of printing from the engraved plates is comparatively small, yet for a number of years there was no provision of law by which the topographic atlas sheets could be published for general distribution. Only small editions for office use could be printed, and under this authority an office edition of 250 copies of each sheet was printed as soon as the plate had been engraved. This condition existed, with a growing demand, until February 18, 1897, when Congress authorized the publication and distribution by sale of the topographic atlas sheets at a price which would cover the cost of printing and materials. Since that time, under a stimulating demand, the size of the editions has been increased to 3,000. Even these large editions are rapidly exhausted and frequent reprints are necessary to supply

the demand.

The first year after the organization of this division 26,000 copies of all topographic sheets were printed. Ten years later the number of printed copies had increased to 533,655. The total printed to date has been 3,434,424.

The first folios of the Geologic Atlas of the United States were published in the fiscal year 1892-93, which was the fourth year of the existence of the division. These four years were devoted largely to study and experimentation with colors, patterns, symbols, and processes of geologic notation. At the time mentioned the necessary pattern plates had been engraved, six folios had been published, and others were under way. A folio contains several pages of text, a topographic atlas sheet, an areal geology sheet, an economic geology sheet, a sheet of (geologic) structure sections, and a sheet of columnar sections; and sometimes an artesian-water sheet, a soil sheet, a forestry sheet, or a special illustration sheet, the latter consisting usually of half-tone prints from nature illustrative of geologic phenomena.

Each geologic map is a topographic map which has been overprinted with from 3 to 27 colors, either in flat tints or in patterns. During the year 1902-3, or ten years after the issuance of the first geologic folios, there were 14 published. The total number published to date is 100.

The total number of copies of all geologic folios printed in 1892–93 was 3,000. In 1902-3 there were printed 73,080 copies. The total number printed to date is 484,958.

Incidental to the publication of the topographic and geologic atlas sheets, which is the main function of the division, a large and growing volume of miscellaneous engraving and printing has been done. Much of this is intended for general distribution, but some part of it is designed primarily for office use. It includes index maps, notices and circulars in ordinary type and with map illustrations, pamphlets, photolithographs of maps enlarged or reduced for various purposes, Land Office plats, maps of the entire United States on different scales,

the supplying of transfers from engraved plates to contracting firms for illustrating Survey papers, and the printing of special editions of maps for States cooperating with the Geological Survey. The total number of copies of this miscellaneous matter printed in 1903 was 220,000.

DIVISION OF DOCUMENTS.

All Survey publications, when delivered by the printer, are received by the chief of the division of documents, who receipts for and is custodian of them, and distributes them in accordance with law.

The chief clerk assumed charge of documents-principally those of former surveys-until 1882, when this duty was assigned to the librarian. In 1893, owing to the growth of the library, a division of documents and stationery was created, under the direction of a chief, aided by several assistants. This organization continued until May, 1901. when the present division of documents was established.

At first the stock of publications was stored on the top floor of the northeast tower of the National Museum, in which the Survey offices were located. In 1883 additional quarters were obtained in the attic of a business building. Since 1884, when the Geological Survey first occupied its present quarters, all documents have been stored in the basement of the same building.

The law requires that some of the Survey publications shall be sold and the money be turned into the Treasury; that others may be exchanged for the scientific publications of individuals and institutions; that others shall be sent to designated public libraries and institutions; and that still others shall be distributed free. The record of all these transactions is voluminous. Excepting topographic maps and geologic folios, Members of Congress receive and distribute their quotas of Survey documents through the Congressional folding and document rooms.

The growth of the Survey, its value as a factor in the development of the economic resources of the country, and the service it renders the people are shown by the many thousand letters received yearly requesting the publications of the Survey; and the number is constantly increasing. Through this correspondence the office comes directly in contact with the public. As it is the unvarying practice to answer all communications, the correspondence and other duties of this section, which at first occupied but a small portion of the time of the chief clerk, now require the services of a chief of division and 11 assistants. During the fiscal year 1881-82 about 3,700 communications were answered, while in 1902-3 the number mailed was 109,686.

In 1897 Congress enacted laws providing for the distribution, by sale, of the map sheets of the topographic atlas of the United States. Since that time the number of maps distributed yearly has rapidly