COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT 325 
forest growth. No data or records are presented to show that floods equally 
large did not occur in older times. 
“To make a proper report would require a certain time, as well as an appro- 
priation to meet the expenses incurred by the committee of the academy. 
“ As regards the provisions of the bill, it appears to the committee to be abso- 
lutely essential that the Government shall have full ownership and control of all 
reserved lands, and that these shall be in large continuous blocks. ‘To limit such 
ownership to detached lots, surrounded by areas held by private parties upon 
whose concurrence success must depend, would seem to be entering on a dangerous 
copartnership likely to result in large expenditures and litigation. 
“C, S. SARGENT, 
“ Henry L. ABgot, 
“Wn. H. BREWER, 
“ Committee.’ 
s 
COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATIONS OF THE 
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 1902 
Near the close of the year 1902, President Roosevelt sent the 
following letter to Professor Alexander Agassiz.*™ 
“Wuite House, 
“WASHINGTON, December 26, 1902. 
“My pear Mr. Acassiz: I should like much a report from the National 
Academy of Sciences on the desirability of instituting scientific explorations of 
the Philippine Islands and on the scope proper to such an undertaking. The 
National Academy is the official scientific adviser of the Government, and I 
would like its codperation in planning a comprehensive investigation of the 
natural resources and natural history of the islands. It will of course rest with 
Congress to decide the extent to which such a plan can be carried through; but I 
should like, at any rate, to have a plan formulated and to do what I can to have 
it adopted. 
“Sincerely yours, 
“THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 
“ Pror. ALEXANDER AGASSIZ, 
“ President of the National Academy, Cambridge, Mass.” 
Professor Agassiz was absent in Europe when this letter 
reached Cambridge, and it was placed in the hands of the Vice- 
President, Asaph Hall, who, after consulting with members of 
™® Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1904, p. 22. 
