The Kintner Letters: fin Astronomer's Account of the Wheeler Survey in Utah and Idaho INTRODUCTION BY R U S S E L L E . BIDLACK AND EDITORIAL N O T A T I O N S BY E V E R E T T L. COOLEY
Charles Jacob Kintner
(1848-1921)
No historical study of the geography of the Western States can fail to take cognizance of the pioneer work done by the so-called Wheeler Survey. In 1869 the United States Army, with a view toward mapping the West for military purposes, sent First Lieutenant George M. Wheeler of the Corps of Engineers on a brief reconnaissance through southern and southeastern Nevada. Wheeler continued the work in the spring of 1871, and on June 10, 1872, Congress appropriated $75,000 to broaden the project. Thus was created the "Geographical Survey West of the One Hundredth Meridian" whose main purpose it was to map the territory now comprising the western portions of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas; the Rocky Mountain States; and the Pacific States. Although the Survey was to be primarily geographical, Wheeler was also directed to Dr. Bidlack is professor of library science, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Cooley is director of the U t a h State Historical Society.
