SKETCH OF CHARLES D. WALCOTT. 553 



lie domain, and the danger of a timber famine in the future, have 

 led to the institution of a number of forest reservations, and in the 

 last year of his administration President Cleveland established, by 

 jjroclamation, thirteen additional reservations. Under existing laws 

 a vast body of land included in these reservations could not be 

 utilized for agriculture or town sites, and the exclusion of settlers 

 from so great a domain led to vigorous protest. The situation in- 

 volved considerable strain, and there was danger that the attempt 

 to protect the forests would fail; but a compromise was finally 

 arranged, under the terms of which the Geological Survey was 

 instructed to map the reservations, marking upon them the areas 

 actually forested, and also the areas available for agriculture. One 

 hundred and fifty thousand dollars were appropriated for this work, 

 and another important duty was thus imposed on the survey. 



The survey is also charged this year with the running of the 

 northern part of the boundary line between Idaho and Montana. 



Thus in four years three new functions have been given to the 

 Geological Survey, and the sum of money intrusted to Mr. Walcott's 

 administrative care has been enlarged from $484,640 to $967,840, 

 an increase of more than one hundred per cent. 



The individual who demonstrates high administrative quality by 

 success in any one field is sure to find opportunity for its exercise in 

 other fields, and Mr. Walcott has been no exception. 



The death of Dr. G. Brown Goode, in the fall of 1896, had made 

 vacant the office of assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 

 and director of the United States National Museum. The position 

 is one that requires a rare combination of qualities. For this reason, 

 and on account of the intrusion of outside issues into the matter, the 

 secretary of the institution found the selection of a person to fill it 

 difficult. It was offered to Mr. Walcott, but he declined to leave 

 the Geological Survey. He finally consented to take the place 

 temporarily, with the understanding that his duties should be con- 

 fined exclusively to the charge of the museum; and this proposition 

 being accepted by the Board of Regents, he now holds the position 

 of acting assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in charge 

 of the National Museum. 



Mr. "Walcott is one of the younger members of the National 

 Academy of Sciences, to which he was elected in 1895. In the 

 same year the Bigsbee medal of the Geological Society of London 

 was given him in recognition of his distinguished work as paleontolo- 

 gist and stratigraphical geologist. This medal is awarded biennially 

 " as a recognition of eminent services in any department of geology, 

 irrespective of the receiver's country," and Mr. Walcott was the 

 fourth American to receive it. 



