Under the organic law of the Geological Survey, investigations in economic
geology are restricted to those States and Territories in which there are
public lands; the extension of the work into the eastern portion of the
United States included only that part relating to general geology. Two
mining divisions are organized. One, in charge of Mr. George F. Becker,
with headquarters at San Francisco, California, is at the present time
engaged in the study of the quicksilver districts of California. The
other, under charge of Mr. S.F. Emmons, with headquarters at Denver,
Colorado, is engaged in studying various mining districts in that State,
including silver, gold, iron, and coal areas. Each division has a corps of
assistants. The lignite coals of the upper Missouri, also, are under
investigation by Mr. Bailey Willis, with a corps of assistants.