U.S. geologists moving into MP building

By Richard Stannard

The advance guard of the U.S. Geological Survey is moving into its new headquarters building in Linfield Oaks, Menlo Park, and the rest of the crew will be coming in gradually from now until early January.

David Gallagher, geologist in charge, is already making his headquarters in the building, located at the end of Homewood Place. The second floor is in pretty good shape, but downstairs there is still much partitioning of offices to be done.

Gallagher, in addition to his geological duties, is occupied with the varied details of moving into a new headquarters. About half the employees who have been working in San Francisco are already here, and the rest will come as space is available.

Others are coming from offices in Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., Spokane, Portland, Los Angeles, and other western cities. Fully staffed, the building will have about 120 employees

Up to now, the geological survey’s western operations have had headquarters in Washington, D.C., Gallagher explained. Menlo Park is to become a regional headquarters, part of the government policy of decentralizing administration.

The U.S. Geological Survey is one of the oldest agencies in the government, Gallagher said. Founded in 1879, it is little known to the public because of a long standing reluctance for publicity.

Gallagher, a survey man since 1940, explained it is one of the principal agencies of the department of the interior, on a par with the bureau of mines or bureau of reclamation.

It is primarily a research organization, however, working on problems of water, minerals, and other natural resources.

The survey is best known for another of its functions, production of the topographical maps so widely used by geologists, Sierra Club members, and prospectors.

Eventually, as other building are added to the site, all functions of the survey will be housed here. Gallagher said. This first building will have the geological section and headquarters for the man in charge of Alaskan work. There will also be an administrative officer, Thomas H. Osborne of Berkeley.

The survey, said Gallagher with some emphasis, has no connection with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, with which it is often confused.

Palo Alto Times
December 11, 1953

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