WCP3122

[1]

Department Of The Interior

United States Geological Survey

Washington D. C.

March 20, 1888

Dr. Alfred Russell Wallace

Godalming, England.

My dear sir,

You favor in reference to plans for your son reached Washington during my absence, and important official duties prevented me from giving it early attention after my return.

The appointment of assistants for the Geological Survey is by law made on recommendation of the Director, and when there are openings to fill, as they have been each year, selection is based on our best information as to the fitness of persons for the work to be done. There are two general departments of our work geographic and geologic. The qualifications looked for in the geographic department are the ordinary qualifications of a civil engineer. In the geologic department chief dependence is placed on the published records of researches by the individuals under consideration.

The salaries attached to the permanent geologic positions range from 1200 to 4000 dollars. Young men who have made no [2] record in science are sometimes employed by way of trial and in subsidiary work at nominal rates.

There are number of technical engineering schools in the United States, whose graduates we are glad to secure when we have occasion to enlarge the ^geographic force. There is no school making a specialty of the preparation of men for geologic research, but at Harvard, Cornell, Johns Hopkins and some other leading universities facilities may be found for post-graduate studies in geology, and there are several schools, and there are several schools for the training of mining engineers.

Hoping that this information will prove of service to you

I remain yours cordially | J.W. Powell Director | [signature]