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sides, from 800 to 1,000 feet above the bottom, in almost inaccessible positions. From all the information that could be obtained from the present race of Indians, these dwellings were inhabited at least eight centuries ago by a race of sun-worshippers, which were driven southward, step by step, by a persistent foe from the north.

The sixth division, under Mr. J. T. Gardner, continued the primary triangulation over the mountainous region of the southwest, extending into Utah, and connecting with some of Professor Powell's stations.

The seventh division was under the immediate direction of Professor Hayden, and made special studies of those portions of Colorado that presented rather complicated problems in geology. A careful survey was made of the Elk Mountains, of the Morainal deposits in the valley of the Upper Arkansas, and the coal-beds along the east base of the Colorado range of mountains from Cañon City to Cheyenne. The season's labors were in every respect successful, and a large amount of topographical, geological, and natural-history material was secured for the eighth annual report to the Secretary of the Interior.

The publications of the survey during 1874 were the Bulletin No. 1 and No. 2, and second series, Nos. 1, 2, 3; miscellaneous publications, Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6; Cretaceous Flora, by Leo Lesquereux, 7th Annual Report, (Colorado.)

Survey under Professor Powell.

This was the continuation of the geological and geographical exploration of the basin of the Colorado of the West in Utah, prosecuted for several years previous. For this work two parties were organized, one under the charge of Prof. A. H. Thompson, and the other under the immediate direction of Professor Powell himself. Each party had a number of assistants, and to the latter was added a photographer. The first party was employed in carrying forward the work in Central Utah, and the second party in Northeastern Utah.

The valley of the Sevier, near the town of Gunnison, was selected as the proper position for the base-line from which a series of triangles could be extended to the north, east, and south, and connected with those which had been established in former years.

For hypsometric determinations Green River City on the Union Pacific Railroad, Salt Lake City, Gunnison, and Pangwitch were selected, from their connection with railway surveys, as known points of reference for altitudes to be ascertained by the barometer.

The geographical determination of latitude and longitude rests pri marily on the base-line, the terminations of which were established by astronomical observations. For latitude the zenith-telescope was employed, and for longitude telegraphic methods were adopted.

The material was collected for mapping and exhibiting the resources of a section of country heretofore but little known, embracing many ranges of mountains and plateaus, with valleys drained by streams

which in places pass through deep and almost inaccessible gorges. Over the entire region surveyed the data were collected for determining the amount and distribution of lands which can be redeemed from sterility by irrigation, and also that of grass and timber lands. The coal-formations, which had been discovered in previous surveys in adjoining regions, were traced through the areas of the present survey, and many new beds discovered. It was found that the coal of Southern and Central Utah is distributed through a series of geological formations embracing most of the Tertiary and Cretaceous ages. The supply of coal of this region is, therefore, abundant, and much of it is said to be of good quality and widely distributed. The position of many of the more important mineral-lodes was determined, especially such as have been worked to a sufficient extent to enable the owners to acquire permanent titles from the Government, and these will be represented on the general map.

The geological structure of the region is exceedingly complex. A series of formations, embracing Tertiary, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, and Metamorphic rocks, are plicated on a grand scale, and displaced by faults of immense extent. During geological ages, and continued down to later periods, this region must have been the scene of great volcanic activity. Extensive fields of eruptive matter and large numbers of volcanic cones are exhibited. In many places there exist great escarpments, forming cañonwalls and lines of cliffs, exhibiting with great perfection the superposition and structure of rocks, from which interesting geological deductions can be made.

The great system of monoclinal folds and faults discovered in former years, crossing the grand cañon of the Colorado, was found to be extended into the region of this year's survey. The lithological geology was studied so far as the opportunities permitted, and large collections of rocks made, especially of the volcanic formations widely distributed in geological succession. From the sedimentary rocks fossils were obtained abundantly sufficient to indicate the ancient flora and fauna of the region. The Territory is traversed by profound gorges, which conduct off the small amount of rain-fall not evaporated. Although the amount of water carried by the streams is small, the great elevation of the country above the sea gives it the velocity of a torrent, and being mingled with stones, its erosive action exhibits effects unequalled, perhaps, in any other part of the globe. On the mountains and plateaus of this region, wherever an altitude of 9,000 feet, or more, is reached, evidences of ancient glacial action are found.

Interesting ethnological results were obtained. Two important tribes of Indians were again visited, the U-in-tats and Seuv-a-rits, usually known as the Uinta Utes and She-be-riches, and much additional knowledge of the words and grammatical construction of their language was secured, as also a series of facts relating to the naming of tribes. and confederacies, with fresh information as to their political organiza

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tion. It so happened that while the surveyors were among these Indians, messengers arrived from the Go-si-Utes, of Western Utah and Eastern Nevada, bringing information of great rains and of the gradual rising of the Great Salt Lake, indicating, as they supposed, a great calamity, and calling upon the tribes we have mentioned to join them in religious ceremonies to appease the anger of the waters, lest in their rage and coming power they should destroy all the land and the people who lived thereon. The state of religious excitement which ensued enabled Professor Powell to increase his knowledge of their mythology and religion, in directions which previous to that time had been closed to him. On these subjects the Indians are usually reticent. Believing in sorcery and that a knowledge of their religion and organization can be used by their enemies to their disadvantage, they forbear to give any information on these subjects. But under the excitement above mentioned their reserve was neglected, and facts revealed which had previously been only partially understood. Previous to this no definite information had been obtained as to their religious worship, or whether they had any system of appeasing the displeasure of their gods.

A large number of articles to illustrate the various arts among these people, in addition to those made in previous years, was collected, so that the specimens in the National Museum for the study of the civili zation of these tribes are more extensive, perhaps, than for any other on the American continent. Attention was also given to the ancient remains in the valley of the Colorado, and interesting additions have been made to the facts already known. A number of additional ruins were discovered, and observations made for depicting on a map scores of ancient towns or hamlets. Copies of picture-writings and stone implements of various kinds were obtained. The ethnological investiga tion embraces language, mythology, folk-lore, and the means of obtaining subsistence.

A large number of photographs was taken, which served to assist the draughtsman in delineating the topographical features of the country; also another series of the Indians themselves, intended to illustrate their dress, habits, and other characteristics.

Survey under Hon. Archibald Campbell.

This survey was for the continuation of the boundary-line along the forty-ninth parallel of latitude, between the United States and the British possessions. The distance remaining to be surveyed during 1874 was three hundred and fifty-eight miles, from longitude 106° 12′ to longitude 114° 05'. It was divided into two parties, the astronomical and the topographical.

During the season of 1874 the work was executed in the same manner as before, under the agreement made between the chief astronomers of the United States and British commissions, to the effect that the officers of the United States were to determine astronomical stations at intervals of forty miles, and to survey a belt of territory five miles wide south

of the parallel, the English to determine a similar series of astronomical stations, and to survey an equal belt of topography north of the line. The astronomical party, in charge of Maj. W. J. Twining, was organized in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on the 1st of June, and reached the point of operation on the 1st of July. The shortness of the season, and the great distance, to be traveled after the work should be completed. required that it should be finished early in September. The party was.. therefore, pushed to the utmost limit of endurance, and by the 1st of September the eight astronomical stations assigned to the United States had been determined, and the line had been connected with the last previous station of the boundary at the summit of the Rocky Mountains. In four months, this expedition accomplished a journey of 3,700 miles, besides surveying and marking 358 miles of the boundary-line. The topographical party remained in the field both winter and sum. mer from the 1st of June, 1873, until the present time, with the exception of two months in the spring of 1874. They have demonstrated that instrumental work can be done in that high latitude, even in the most rigorous part of the winter, where the country is wooded; but on the open plains the exposure is dangerous. That portion crossed by the line surveyed during 1874 was found to be an open plain, entirely destitute of timber, but easily practicable for wagon-trains, except in the vicinity of Frenchman's Creek and the crossing of Milk River, where wide detours had to be made to avoid the bad-lands. From longitude 106 to the crossing of Milk River the country is unattractive, the rainfall is small, and water consequently scarce during the summer. The soil is alkaline, and produces mostly sage-brush and cactus. From the Sweet-Grass Hills to the Rocky Mountains its character is entirely changed. The rain-fall appears to be ample. The belt along the foot of the mountains, in addition to scenery of rare beauty, presents to the eye of the practical man the more solid advantage of an unsurpassed fertility. Northwestern Montana is still the range of immense herds of buffaloes, whose numbers, according to Major Twining, contrary to the commonly-received opinion, are constantly increasing. This region is the country of the Blackfoot and Piegan tribes of Indians. It is also the debatable ground of the North Assinaboines, the Gros Ventres of the prairie, and the River Crows, while an occasional war-party of the Sioux may be found as far northwest as the Sweet-Grass Hills. With the exception of the Sioux, these tribes appear to be peaceably enough disposed.

Collections and observations in natural history were made at almost every point along the boundary-line by Dr. Elliott Coues, surgeon and naturalist of the expedition, although it is to be regretted that he was not supported by an adequate corps of assistants, particularly in the departments of geology and botany. Large collections were made and sent to the Institution, an account of which is given in the report of Professor Baird. It is to be hoped that ample time may be allowed Dr. Coues for the preparation of his final report, in order that the results of

his field-work may be fully elaborated in illustration of the flora and fauna of a portion of the United States of which comparatively little is known.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Institution, as in former years, has been in harmonious co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, the Army Medical Museum, and the Corcoran Art Gallery. With the first it has deposited plants and other articles relating to agriculture; to the Medical Museum it has transferred a large number of articles pertaining to comparative anatomy and materia medica, and has received in return ethnological specimens; in the third, the Corcoran Art Gallery, it has deposited a number of paintings, articles of statuary, engravings, &c. A list of these several deposits will be found in the appendix.

It may be mentioned that the present Secretary of the Institution has been chosen one of the trustees of the Corcoran Art Gallery, and thus the connexion between these two establishments has become more intimate. The Gallery has been opened during the past year under very favorable auspices, and bids fair to be an important means of improving the intellectual and moral condition of the citizens of Washington, as well as a perpetual monument of the beneficent liberality of its founder. Since its first opening to the public on the 19th January, 1874, it has been visited by 75,000 persons. It has an endowment of $900,000, and had an income last year of upward of $62,000.

Fog-Signals. During the last summer I devoted a considerable portion of my vacation to investigations in regard to sound in its applica tion to fog-signals, the results of which have been published in an ap pendix to the Light-House Report for 1874.

These investigations, which were a continuation of those of former years, tend to establish the fact that sound is susceptible of a kind of refraction, due to the unequal velocity of the upper and lower current of the air, by which the sound-ray is in some cases bent upward, and consequently passes far above the head of the distant auditor, and in others is refracted downward to the surface of the earth, and is thus perceived at a much greater distance. This principle explains the peculiar action of the wind on sound, as well as various abnormal phenomena which have been observed from time to time in the operation of fog-signals; also the discharge of cannon during battles, of which the sound was heard at remote points, though inaudible at those much nearer the explosion.

Fish inquiry and propagation.—It may be remembered that an act of Congress was passed in February, 1871, directing an inquiry to be made into the causes of the decrease of the food-fishes of the United States, to be prosecuted by a commissioner appointed by the President, from the civilian employés of the Government, and to serve without salary. Professor Baird, of this Institution, received this appointment and entered upon his duties.

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