The publications of the Survey are in three series: Annual Reports,
Bulletins, and Monographs. The Annual Report constitutes a part of the
Report of the Secretary of the Interior for each year, but is a distinct
volume. This contains a brief summary of the purposes, plans, and
operations of the Survey, prepared by the Director, and short
administrative reports from the chiefs of divisions, the whole followed by
scientific papers. These papers are selected as being those of most
general interest, the object being to make the Annual Report a somewhat
popular account of the doings of the Survey, that it may be widely read by
the intelligent people of the country. Of this 5,650 copies are published
as a part of the Secretary's report, and are distributed by the Secretary
of the Interior, Senators, and Members of the House of Representatives;
and an extra edition is annually ordered of 15,000 copies, distributed by
the Survey and members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Four
annual reports have been published; the fifth is now in the hands of the
printer.
The Bulletins of the Survey are short papers, and through them somewhat
speedy publication is attained. Each bulletin is devoted to some specific
topic, in order that the material ultimately published in the bulletins
can be classified in any manner desired by scientific men. Nine bulletins
have been published, and seven are in press. The bulletins already
published vary in size from 5 to 325 pages each; they are sold at the cost
of press-work and paper, and vary in price from five to twenty cents each;
4,900 copies of each bulletin are published; 1,900 are distributed by
Congress, 3,000 are held for sale and exchange by the Geological Survey.
The Monographs of the Survey are quarto volumes. By this method of
publication the more important and elaborate papers are given to the
public. Six monographs, with two atlases, have been issued; five
monographs, with two atlases, are in press; 1,900 copies of each monograph
are distributed by Congress; 3,000 are held for sale and exchange by the
Survey at the cost of press-work, paper, and binding. They vary in price
from $1.05 to $11.
The chiefs of divisions supervise the publications that originate in their
several corps. The general editorial supervision is exercised by the Chief
Clerk of the Survey, Mr. James C. Pilling.