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Show 56 Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters the present Geological Survey, headed by a Director, under the In terior Department, and charged with the duty of classifying the public lands and examining the geologic structure and mineral resources of the national domain. The initial work of' the Geological Survey was so arranged that special volumes on the most important geological subjects and mining industries in the West were brought to prompt publica tion. Among the numbers of mining districts which merited careful investigation three were chosen in which there was imme diate need for technical information-Leadville, Colorado; Eureka, Nevada; and the Comstock Lode in Nevada. These were the first three districts to be illustrated by special monographs. As a matter of somewhat special nature, Like Bonneville, the great ancient lake of Utah, was one of the first subjects of inves tigation. Its history reveals the ancient climate of Utah and is closely linked to present day developments. Deltas of streams that were tributary to the lake are exposed as systems of terraces grouped about-the canyon mouths where the streams issue from the mountains. A part of Salt Lake City stands on deltas of City Creek. The cemetery at Ogden occupies an old delta of Ogden River. The Mormon Temple at Logan overlooks Cache Valley from a delta of' Logan River. The "Sand Ridge" between Ogden and Kaysville, now celebrated for its agricultural development, is the delta of Weber River; and the Union Pacific Railroad runs from Uinta to Ogden in a valley the Weber River has excavated through the same deposit. Gilbert's monograph on Lake Bonne ville is especially interesting to students 'of geology and physiog raphy, because the rise and fall of an inland lake which has no outlet, record in a peculiarly accurate manner the local oscillations of climate, and furnish entirely independent data relative to a succession of climatic events coeval with those recorded by the ancient glaciers. It is interesting to note that much of the pioneer work in Utah geology was done by some of the outstanding members of the first generation of scientists in the United States Geological Survey. The names of Powell, Gilbert, and Dutton will always be associated with the early period of studies of Utah geology during the latter half of the past century. The work of these three pioneers in Utah geology, systema tized by their illustrious contemporary, Davis, the father of American physiography, not only made permanent contributions to the available body of geologic facts but firmly established some of the major principles of the science as well. J ohn Wesley Powell ( 1834-] 902) was one of the most famous of the pioneer geological and geographical explorers in Utah. He was a college teacher, army officer, geologist and direc tor of the geographical and geological surveys, beginning with |
