The chiefs of divisions supervise the publications that originate in their
several corps. The general editorial supervision is exercised by the Chief
Clerk of the Survey, Mr. James C. Pilling.


GENERAL GEOLOGY.

In organizing the general geologic work, it became necessary, first, to
consider what had already been done in various portions of the United
States; and for this purpose the compilation of a general geologic map of
the United States was begun, together with a Thesaurus of American
formations. In addition to this the bibliographic work previously
described was initiated, so that the literature relating to American
geology should be readily accessible to the workers in the Survey. At this
point it became necessary to consider the best methods of apportioning the
work; that is, the best methods of dividing the geologic work into parts
to be assigned to the different corps of observers. A strictly geographic
apportionment was not deemed wise, from the fact that an unscientific
division of labor would result, and the same classes of problems would to
a large extent be relegated to the several corps operating in field and in
the laboratory. It was thought best to divide the work, as far as
possible, by subject-matter rather than by territorial areas; yet to some
extent the two methods of division will coincide. There are in the Survey
at present:

First, a division of glacial geology, and Prof. T.C. Chamberlin, formerly
State Geologist of Wisconsin is at its head, with a strong corps of
assistants. There is an important field for which definite provision has
not yet been made, namely, the study of the loess that constitutes the