He then worked in mine examination in Colorado and for six months studied zinc fields in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma for the U.S. Geological Survey.

[1] He remained there until November 1905 when he was appointed director of the newly established Illinois State Geological Survey.

He set up partnerships with local institutions and in 1906, called a meeting in Chicago to organize the Association of State Geologists of the Mississippi Valley, a group that would expand in two years to be the Association of American State Geologists.

Bain in a letter made public at the trial argued that the Teapot Dome and Elk Hills naval oil reserves were leased "for the soundest technical reasons".

He argued that he was the "principal agent" in negotiating the contracts and leases for Secretary of the Interior Albert B.

[2] During World War II, in 1942 and 1943, he was imprisoned by the Japanese in a prison camp at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila for two years.

[3] Bain received the King Albert Medal for his work as a member of the Commission for Relief in Belgium.