than all other forms, whether animal or vegetable. These volumes will prove not only of scientific but also of great practical importance.

The atlas of Colorado, which was described in the last annual report, will be completed about February, 1878. The tenth and eleventh annual reports of the survey are in an advanced state of preparation and will be printed and ready for distribution before the close of the present session of Congress.

In 1872, the organization of the survey was matured on a basis of an appropriation of $75,000, with $20,000 for engraving of charts and illustrations for reports. This estimate was granted until within the past two years, when the appropriations for engraving have been omitted. The consequence is, that the preparation and publication of the more important works of the survey have been greatly impeded. The estimate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, is the same, and it has been made to meet only the absolute needs of the organization and preserve it from disintegration.

SECOND DIVISION.

Major Powell reports that on the arrival of the parties from the field. in January, 1877, office work was organized and pushed with all possible vigor through the winter and early spring. During this time the computations and adjustments for the triangulation were completed, with the determination of the necessary azimuths, latitudes, and longitudes; the hypsometric computations were also made. With the progress of the mathematical work, the topographers were engaged in the preparation of the maps, and by the close of the office season the whole was put in readiness for the engraver.

During the same time a report on the geology of the Henry Mountains was prepared with stereograms, diagrams, and other illustrations, and the manuscript was sent to the Public Printer; it is now ready for the binder.

A second report was prepared on the geology of the volcanic plateaus of Utah, but it was not deemed wise to publish it until the region had been more fully investigated.

During this office season the ethnologic work was more thoroughly organized, and the aid of a large number of volunteer assistants living throughout the country was secured.

On this subject, one volume entitled "Contributions to North American Ethnology, vol. I," was published. It relates to the tribes of Alaska, and to the tribes of a part of Washington Territory and a part of Oregon, and is accompanied by maps of those districts, showing the locality of the tribes. A second volume relating to the tribes of California has been printed and is ready for the binder. This is also accompanied by

a map.

A third volume on this subject is in course of preparation.

A small volume, entitled "Introduction to the Study of Indian Lan

guages," has also been prepared and published. This book is intended for distribution among collectors. A tentative classification of the linguistic families of the Indians of the United States has been made; this has been a work of great labor.

About the middle of May the surveying corps took the field. Five parties were organized: one to extend the triangulation, two for topographic purposes, one geological, and one for the classification of lands. Several minor parties were also organized. Some of these parties are still in the field. The region surveyed this year has been entirely within the Territory of Utah. The geographic parties have completed the survey of districts 86 and 75. The geological party has completed the survey of the volcanic plateaus above mentioned, and the party engaged in the classification of lands has extended its survey over the whole of the Territory of Utah except a small portion in the southwestern corner, and over about one-fourth of the Territory of Arizona. The computations for Utah are not yet completed; but it may be stated as a close approximation, that the area which can be redeemed by irrigation through the utilization of all the streams, but without the construction of reservoirs, is about 1,250,000 acres.

The surveys this year have been extended over large areas of good pine timber, the geographical distribution of which has been carefully determined.

Extensive and valuable coal-fields are embraced in the survey, and they have received much study.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUSTS.

Under act of Congress approved March 3, 1877, a commission was authorized to report upon the depredations of the Rocky Mountain locusts in the Western States and Territories, and the best practicable method of preventing their recurrence or guarding against their invasions.

The following gentlemen, well known for their scientific attainments, were appointed on the commission:

Prof. C. V. Riley, of Missouri.

Prof. Cyrus Thomas, of Illinois.

Prof. A. S. Packard, of Massachusetts.

The commissioners began their work in April, very soon after their appointment. Several thousand circulars were sent to persons in the locust area, and two bulletins in pamphlet form were issued, one containing full information regarding the preventive measures and direct remedies against the young locusts, for immediate use by farmers; the second bulletin contained an account of the habits of the locust, with many illustrations.

The locust area between longitude 94° and 120° was subdivided into three districts, one of which was assigned to each member, who at least once, and in some cases several times, visited important points

where the locusts were most numerous. A number of paid assistants were employed, reports from whom are in the hands of the commissioners. Professor Riley, besides visiting Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado several times, also visited the Manitoba region, in British America. Professor Thomas visited Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Dr. Packard late in May and during June passed through Montana and Dakota, and was enabled to obtain such information as to enable the commission to predict that there would be no invasion of the Mississippi Valley this summer-a prediction which subsequent events fully confirmed. He was also in Utah and Nevada at the time when the people were suffering from the locusts, and afterward made a journey through Northern California, Eastern Oregon, and Washington Territory, so as to ascertain the western limits of the Rocky Mountain locust, which was found to be the 120th meridian. He also determined the species which has for two centuries past locally ravaged Oregon and California.

It is believed that the diffusion of useful knowledge, the personal aid rendered by the commissioners and their assistants, has already saved to the West many times the amount of the funds appropriated by Con gress, while the survey that has been made of the locust-area, the study of the migrations, habits, parasites, and means of prevention, has laid the way for future investigations which will eventuate in the abatement of the evil.

HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION.

Under the provisions of the act creating the Hot Springs commission, the following gentlemen were appointed commissioners to survey, lay out, and appraise the value of the lands on the Hot Springs reservation, and to adjudicate the claims of the occupants, &c.: Hon. A. H. Cragin, of New Hampshire; Hon. John Coburn, of Indiana; and Ex-Governor M. L. Stearns, of Florida. The commissioners have prosecuted the work with energy; and although it was found more difficult than at first anticipated, its progress toward early completion has been very satisfactory.

The prosecution of the surveys has required much care and skill; the nature of the land, its heavy growth of timber, its rough and rocky ridges, and the obliteration of old lines and corners making the estab lishment of new lines a work of extreme difficulty.

The following results have been secured up to the present time:

1. The exterior lines of the reservation have been definitely determined, measured, and monuments set at each section and quarter-section corner.

2. General subdivision lines, dividing the whole area into squares of approximate 2,600 feet to the side, have been run and accurately measured for future base-lines.

3. A portion, including 265 acres, has had its exterior lines run and

measured, and has been accepted as the "Hot Spring Mountain reservation."

4. All claims upon the entire reservation, which had any improvements upon them, have been surveyed to the number of 813, and areas computed of same.

5. Some five miles of base-lines have been run through the principal streets.

6. The topography, upon plan of 10-foot contours, with primes over valuable ground, has been carried over three-fifths of the reservation, and is being finished over the remainder of the territory.

There remains yet to be done, completion of the topography, platting of the same, and study thereof and determination of plan for streets, avenues, &c., and consequent thereon, a proper division into lots, blocks, &c., and thereafter the practical laying down of this plan upon the ground.

The commissioners report that the number of claims for the right to purchase land and for the value of condemned property will exceed one thousand. Much of the testimony relating to this branch of the work has been taken. The labor of preparing these cases for final examination will, in some cases, be very great, as every conflicting interest must be examined and passed upon. It is estimated that the expense of this work will exceed the original appropriation by at least $20,000. On the 8th September, 1877, General B. F. Kelly, of West Virginia, was appointed superintendent of the reservation, and soon after receiving full instructions entered upon his duties. No report has yet been received from him on which to base an estimate of the expenses of his office and the probable revenues to meet them.

SPRING

PAGOSA HOT SPRINGS OF COLORADO.

In view of the action by Congress vesting in the United States the title to and control of the Hot Springs in Arkansas, and believing that medicinal springs should, wherever possible, be placed beyond the cupidity of speculators so that rich and poor can alike share their benefits, I had the honor to recommend in May last the reservation of one mile square of land having the Pagosa Springs as its center. An executive order was issued to that effect.

These springs are situate near the banks of the San Juan River in Colorado, about twenty miles from its southern boundary, and near the one hundred and seventh meridian of longitude west from Greenwich.

DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.

One hundred and seven pupils have been under instruction since July 1, 1876. Uninterrupted good health has prevailed in the institution, the only death occurring being a case of accidental drowning.

Two students graduating from the collegiate department received the degree of bachelor of arts, and one the degree of bachelor of philosophy.

The buildings of the institution are within a few weeks of entire completion, and their cost will be within the amount of the estimates and appropriations.

The current expenses of the institution have amounted during the year to $53,292.31, and there has been expended on buildings the sum of $39.987.76.

In the estimates submitted, beside the usual amount for current expenses, $5,000 is asked for furnishing and fitting up the new building, including a small amount for repairs on completed portions of the buildings, and $10,000 for the inclosure, improvement, and care of the grounds of the institution.

The directors urge that these amounts be appropriated so as to be available during the current fiscal year, since the early completion of the improvements contemplated is very important.

FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL.

During the year, 763 patients were treated in the hospital and asylum.

Of this number, 500 were admitted during the year, 365 were discharged-265 cured and 100 relieved-and 109 died, leaving 277 patients under treatment in the hospital June 30, 1877. Over three thousand prescriptions were dispensed to the poor, and medicines and medical attendance were furnished from the hospital, when needed, to the inmates of the Colored Orphans' Home-115 in number. Subsistence was provided for 25 of these, who are included in the aggregate number in the hospital.

The proportionately large number of deaths is attributed by the surgeon-in-chief to the character of the cases received, many of them being such as had reached an incurable stage before admission, owing to their want of means to procure proper care and medical treatment, and to the fact that of the 500 admissions, 50 were for treatment for consumption; a disease which almost necessarily proves fatal in this class of patients.

COLUMBIA HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.

During the year, 627 women were under treatment at this hospital, of which number 240 were in the hospital and 387 received treatment in the dispensary. Five hundred and ninety-one patients were received during the year. Of the whole number treated, 302 were cured, 132 relieved, 3 died, 43 were transferred, and the results of 107 cases are unknown, leaving 40 cases under treatment at the close of the year-24 in the hospital and 16 at the dispensary.

GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

During the year ending June 30, 1877, 942 persons were treated in the Government Hospital for the Insane, being an increase over the