REPORT ON GEOPHYSICS 1 83 



chemists of various countries than its proposal for cooperation in 

 geophysics. 



Branch Laboratories. 



It has been suggested, especially by Professor I^oewinson-L/essing, 

 that a branch laboratory in the Hawaiian Islands, which are now a 

 possession of the United States, would give unexampled opportuni- 

 ties for the study of vulcanism. The majority of the present living 

 volcanoes are comparatively small. In Hawaii are the greatest of 

 the existing volcanoes — those that are most nearly comparable to 

 the ones which must have existed when the vast lava plateaus of 

 various parts of the world were produced. If a branch laboratory 

 were established in Hawaii, there can be no question that the knowl- 

 edge of the phenomena and causes of vulcanism would be greatly 

 advanced. 



Seismology. 



Another line along which cooperation is especially urged by 

 various European geologists is seismology. It is unnecessary to 

 urge the importance of seismological investigations both to science 

 and to constructional work. At the present time there are many 

 seismological stations scattered over various parts of the world. 

 However, for an adequate study of earth tremors it is advisable that 

 additional stations should be established at a number of wisely se- 

 lected places in the more remote parts of the earth. Professor Milne 

 at Shide, Isle of Wight, has for many years been receiving records 

 of a large number of the instruments now in use, but the work has 

 now become too large for him to carry, and he asks for assistance. 

 Recently it was arranged that Strassburg be a center of information 

 for seismology, but some countries have refused to cooperate in this 

 plan. The time is now ripe for some institution with adequate 

 funds to arrange a broad scheme of cooperation between the various 

 interests and to be the medium which harmonizes them, and thus to 

 systematize the seismological work of the world. Many have said 

 to me that the unique position of the Carnegie Institution, free from 

 all entanglements and prejudices, places this institution in by far 

 the most advantageous situation to accomplish this work. Indeed, 

 a number of geologists have said that, so far as they can see, unless 

 the Carnegie Institution takes up this work, the same chaotic con- 

 dition of affairs that has existed in the past will continue. It is 

 believed that in securing the cooperation of all the men engaged in 



