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“Exploration of the Sierra Nevada” (1925)
by Francis P. Farquhar

The United States Geological Survey

The work of the United States Geological Survey in the Sierra Nevada began in the northern section, and it was not until 1893 and 1894 that the Yosemite quadrangle was surveyed. This was followed by the Mount Lyell quadrangle in 1898 and 1899, and from that time on the work was continued towards the south until the final section of the High Sierra was completely surveyed in 1909 and the Mount Goddard quadrangle published in 1912.

The earlier work of these surveys was conducted by Robert B. Marshall who was later appointed Chief Geographer, and it was largely due to his interest and enthusiasm that the work progressed so steadily. Among others who played an important part in the field work were C. F. Urquhart and George R. Davis. Davis’ topographical work in the Mount Goddard region, comprising some of the roughest and most intricate country in the United States, is a remarkable achievement, and the Mount Goddard quadrangle is a testing monument to his great ability as a topographer.

Following the main topographical work and the publication of the maps, a number of intensive studies were carried on by the Survey. The earlier work of Gilbert, Russell, and Johnson has already been mentioned. Grove Karl Gilbert subsequently made a number of expeditions into the High Sierra. In 1903 he was with the Sierra Club in the Kern, region and in the same year revisited the Mount Lyell glacier and compared its appearance with that in 1883. ¹⁰⁷ In 1904 he was with J. N. Le Conte in the Evolution Basin, He was again in the Evolution Basin in 1908 and on that occasion was accompanied by E. C. Andrews of the Geological Survey of New South Wales and by Willard D. Johnson. ¹⁰⁸

The latest intensive studies of the Survey have been those of François E. Matthes, whose work in the Yosemite region is particularly noteworthy.

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¹⁰⁷ Sierra Club Bulletin, 1904, V, 1. pp. 23, 58; 1919, X, 4, p. 393.

¹⁰⁸ Sierra Club Bulletin, 1920, XI, 1, p. 65; 1924, XII, 1, pp. 88-90.

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