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Show 4 Nearly all of these parties were disbanded at Pueblo, Colo., in December; the officers and professional assistants returning to Washington, where they were actively engaged during the winter ii\ the preparation of field- results for final publication. Executive and special reports of officers and professional assistants - are herewith. The organization of field- parties for the present season is as follows: California section.- Party No. 1: In charge of myself, from which a special party, under Lieut. C. W. Whipple, Third United States Artillery, has been detached for independent work during the entire season, as executive officer and field astronomer; Acting Assistant Surgeon H. C. Yarrow, Uuited States Army, medical officer and zoologist; Acting Assistant Surgeon J. T. liothrock, United States Army, medical officer and botanist. Party No. 2: First Lieut. Rogers Birnie, jr., Thirteenth Infantry, executive* officer and field- astronomer. Party No. 3: First Lieut. Eric Bergland, Corps of Engineers, executive officer and field-astronomer. Colorado section.- First Lieut. Wm. L. Marshall, Corps of Engineers, iii general charge, and executive officer and field- astronomer of party No. 1. Party So. 2: First Lieut. C. C. Morrison, Sixth United States Cavalry, executive officer and field- astronomer. Party No. 3: First Lieut. Wm. L. Carpenter, Ninth United States Infantry, executive officer and naturalist. To all of these parties are attached the requisite number of topographers, geologists, recorders, guides, packers, laborers, & c. Paragraph 3, Special Orders No. 87, Adjutant- General's Office, current series, sets forth the facilities to be afforded through the supply departments of the Army in furtherance of tbe objects of the survey, and details two 1st class privates of the Engineer Batallion, ( who acted as barometoic recorders,) and an escort of one non- commissioned officer and seven privates, ( selected from Company G, 12th Infantry,) from the Military Division of the Pacific, who, having reported at Los Augeles, Cal., were distributed among the working- parties of the California section. The field work of the California and Colorado sections has been commenced both at Los Angeles, Cal., and Pueblo, Colo., as initial points, and will be prosecuted over areas of portious of atlas- sheets 61, 69, 77, 78, 72, and 73 in tbe main, while a special party, under Lieutenant Bergland, has been dispatched to the Colorado River to ascertain the feasibility of its diversion from its present bed for the purposes of irrigation, iu accordance with a special letter of instructions from the Department. In this connection, work of considerable geographical importance will be carried on, and preliminary information gathered, upon which to base a plan to fully determine the practicability of utilizing this great river by directing its waters to a new channel, along which all admissible lakes or reservoirs could be formed. This special examination having been intrusted to my charge, the detailed arrangements and instructions necessary to the instrumental and other measurements thereof have been committed to a party under Lieutenant Bergland, and a report of progress will be submitted at the close of the field- season of his party, which, in view of the severity of the climate in the comparatively arid sections bordering upon the Colorado, will not be prolonged beyond October 15. The several parties now successfully engaged in the field resume operations this year under the most favorable circumstances, the organization, especially as regards perfection of methods and instruments, and |
