ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA, To the Trustees of the University of North Dakota : GENTLEMEN: With the publication of the forthcoming volume of the Geological Survey of North Dakota my connection with the Survey as geologist ceases. The work of the Survey has been growing so rapidly during the past two or three years. that it has been impossible for me to attend to it longer in addition to my other duties as director of the department of chemistry and the School of Mines. The change is one which I have strongly urged for years upon your honorable body. It is with pleasure, therefore, that I now turn over this work to Dr. Frank A. Wilder, who was elected to the position of State Geologist in June last. The work which I have done in organizing the Survey and in publishing investigations thus far made has been of a pioneer nature and purely a labor of love. For several years after the organization of the Survey no funds were appropriated. During this time the work was carried on in the summer vacation months, and the expense, amounting to two or three thousands of dollars, I have freely donated to the state for the good of the cause. Under such conditions it has been possible to do nothing more than the preliminary work, which has resulted in several bulletins and the first report of the Survey published two years ago. At the present time a small amount is available for the expenses. connected with this work. This, in addition to the appointment of a man to give his time to the work, will make it possible to build up a systematic and extremely valuable survey in North Dakota. The available funds are, however, entirely inadequate for the amount of work which should be undertaken, and it is. earnestly hoped that a much more liberal provision will be made at once for the Geological Survey. In a new state like ours such work is of the utmost economic importance. There are vast re sources untouched and perhaps unknown, which must be investigated and brought to the attention of our citizens and those elsewhere who are seeking safe and promising investments. Dollars invested by the state in the work of the Geological Survey will return to her thousands of dollars in the saving, the utilization and the development of our resources. The enormous profit derived by the older states from expenditures on similar geological surveys is unquestionable. In a new state like North Dakota the benefits should be even greater. I trust that hereafter the state will amply provide for the vigorous prosecution of this important work. It is with pleasure that I turn over the portion of my work connected with the Survey to Dr. Frank A. Wilder, for I believe that North Dakota is fortunate in securing as the director of the State Geological Survey one so well qualified by training and experience for the prosecution of this work. Respectfully, E. J. BABCOCK, Professor of Chemistry and Dean of the School of Mines. STATE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA, November 1, 1902. Hon. David Bartlett, President of the Board of Trustees of the State University of North Dakota : DEAR SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the second biennial report of the State Geological Survey of North Dakota. In taking up the work which the pressure of other duties compels Prof. Babcock to relinquish, I am very materially aided by the excellent introductory study made by him of the coals, clays and the waters of the state. The hearty appreciation of the purpose and previous work of the Survey which I find everywhere through the state gives the greatest encouragement to those who are actively associated with the Survey's affairs. Scope of the Survey. As definitely stated in the law under which the Survey was organized, it is entrusted with the complete and thorough geological study of the state, and particularly with those lines of research that promise to develop its mineral wealth. Theoretical problems, however, are not to be neglected. The stratigraphic and topographic features of the state are to be studied and properly mapped, and the historical development of each is to be explained. A proper order for work is suggested in the statute of organization in which primary stress is laid on the economic problems, to which the attention of the Survey is specifically directed. It shall be my endeavor, therefore, to direct the initial work of the Survey so that the value of the natural resources of the state may be known, and at the same time, so far as practicable, to collect other data bearing on the theoretical problem that the state presents, which shall furnish material for later publications. With the consent of the Board of Trustees, the first bulletins of the Survey will treat of the coals and clays, the water resources with special reference to irrigation, the building stones and cement materials; probably in the order named. Preliminary reports as thorough as the time and means available allow will be made, and these will be followed by more minute studies in which the convenient unit of area will be the county. After the completion of the series of county reports, material will be available for exhaustive topical papers. In addition to what may fairly be termed the positive work of the Survey, namely the pointing out of the mineral resources of the state which justify investment, a great deal of the survey work, just as important in its bearing on the development of the state, is negative in its nature, consisting in making examinations for interested citizens which result in assuring them that the proposition which they have submitted will not warrant development. In this way the survey saves to the state large sums of money and prevents many hopeless speculations which would delay the development of justifiable projects. Finances of the Survey.-The finances of the survey are handled in accordance with the most conservative business methods. For local and office expenses no money goes through the hands of the State Geologist or his assistants, but all necessary expenditures are made through your Secretary. In the field, vouchers are taken for all sums spent and these are filed with your Secretary, together with itemized statements, the correctness of which is sworn to before a notary. These statements and vouchers are subject to inspection at any time at the office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Co-operation with the United States Survey.-I take pleasure in reporting the friendly attitude of the United States Geological |