COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT 327 
knowledge a contribution of great importance, highly commendable to the 
United States. 
“ Before taking any further steps in this matter, I desire to have estimates of the 
cost of such explorations prepared, assuming that the work is to be completed in 
ten years, and that the various branches of the scientific surveys codperate with one 
another systematically and heartily. 
“T therefore appoint the following Board of Scientific Surveys to prepare such 
estimates and to make such suggestions as may appear to it pertinent in the cir- 
cumstances, viz: 
“Mr. CHaries D. WAtcotTt, Chairman. 
“Mr. FREDERICK C. COVILLE 
“Mr. Barton W. EVERMANN 
“Mr. W. H. Ho_mes 
“Mr. C. Hart MErRIAM 
“Mr. GIFForD PINCHOT 
“Mr. Otro H. Titrmann. 
“Sincerely yours, 
““THEODORE ROOSEVELT.” 
The board held five meetings in March, May and June, 1903, 
appointed a committee on plans and organization, prepared 
estimates of expenditures, drafted a bill for the consideration of 
Congress, drew up various memoranda, and transacted other 
business. After that the matter was held in abeyance for two 
years, but on February 7, 1905, President Roosevelt sent the 
report of the committee of the Academy to Congress, with the 
following message: 
“WuitE House, 
“ February 7, 1905. 
“To the Senate and House of Representatives: 
“ Circumstances have placed under the control of this Government the Philip- 
pine Archipelago. The islands of that group present as many interesting and novel 
questions with respect to their ethnology, their fauna and flora, and their geology 
and mineral resources as any region of the world. At my request the National 
Academy of Sciences appointed a committee to consider and report upon the 
desirability of instituting scientific explorations of the Philippine Islands. ‘The 
report of this committee, together with the report of the Board of Scientific 
Surveys of the Philippine Islands, including draft of a bill providing for surveys 
of the Philippine Islands, which board was appointed by me, after receiving the 
report of the committee appointed by the National Academy of Sciences, with 
