On March 3, 1964, the U.S. Geological Survey, celebrating its eighty-fifth anniversary, received a congratulatory message from Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, who pointed out that “through its geologic, hydrologic, and topographic surveys, and its research on basic principles of earth science... [it] has contributed in significant measure to the intelligent development and wise use of this Nation's mineral, water, and land resources” (personal communication to T. B. Nolan, U.S.G.S. Director).
The U.S. Geological Survey originated in 1879 as a result of the consolidation of four scientific surveys made during the period from 1867 to 1879 as part of the exploration of the western United States. A State Geological Survey had already been organized in Massachusetts 49 yr earlier, and between 1830 and 1879, 34 of the 38 states then in existence had established a State Geological Survey. The far-sighted state governing bodies thus had recognized at an early date the great need for...
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Agnew, A.F. (1988). Geological surveys, state and federal . In: General Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30844-X_41
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