. U.S . Geological Survey Circular 1050 The United States Geological Survey : 1879-1989 By Mary C . Rabbitt A history of the relation of geology during the first 110 years of the U.S . Geological Survey to the development of public-land , Federal-science , and mapping policies and the development of mineral resources in the United States Introduction Geological Surveys Before the Civil War The Four Great Surveys of the West Establishment of the U.S . Geological Survey Organizing the U.S . Geological Survey The First Quarter-Century Beginning the Second Quarter-Century World War I The 1920's The Depression Years World War II Postwar and Cold War The Korean War The Survey at 75 A New Age Begins The Survey at 100 Into the Second Century Notes Selected References Library of Congress