he plan, it being
proposed to transfer this bureau to the Interior Department, with its
functions so extended as to include the entire work of triangulation.

When the proposition came up in Congress at the following session,
it was vigorously fought by the Chief of Engineers of the army,
and by the General Land Office, of which the surveying functions
were practically abolished. The Land Office carried its point,
and was eliminated from the scheme. General Humphreys, the Chief of
Engineers, was a member of the academy, but resigned on the ground
that he could not properly remain a member while contesting the
recommendations of the body. But the academy refused to accept the
resignation, on the very proper ground that no obligation was imposed
on the members to support the views of the academy, besides which,
the work of the latter in the whole matter was terminated when its
report was presented to Congress.

Although this was true of the academy, it was not true of the
individual members who had taken part in constructing the scheme.
They were naturally desirous of seeing the plan made a success, and,
in the face of such vigorous opposition, this required constant
attention. A dexterous movement was that of getting the measure
transferred from one appropriation bill to another when it passed
over to the Senate. The measure at length became a law, and thus
was established the Geological Survey of the United States, which
was to be governed by a Director, appointed by the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Then, on March 4, 1879, an important question arose. The right man
must be placed at the head of the new bureau. Who is he? At first
there seemed to be but one voice on the subject, Professor Hayden had
taken the greatest pains to make known the work of his survey, not
only to Congress, but to every scientific society, small and great,
the world over. Many of these had bestowed their approbation upon it
by electing its director to honorary membership. It has been said,
I do not know how truly, that the number of these testimonials
exceeded that received by any other scientific man in America.
If this were so, they would have to be counted, not weighed. It was,
therefore, not surprising that two thirds of the members of Congress
were said to have sent a recommendation to the President for the
appointment of so able and successful a man to the new position.
The powerful backing o