REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTION. 



In compliance with the provisions of Article IV of the B3'-Iyaws of 

 the Carnegie Institution of Washington, I have the honor to submit 

 the following report on the work of the Institution 

 Introdoct^ory State- ^j^^^ing the fiscal year ending October 31, 1905, 

 along with recommendations of appropriations for 

 work during the succeeding year, and with some suggestions con- 

 cerning the future course and progress of the Institution. 



Coming as the writer has to the presidency of an institution already 

 well organized, but still in the earlier stages of its development, 

 it is essential for the purposes of a report to assume as a point of 

 departure the plan and scope of operations found well under way. 

 Accordingly, the resume of the work of the year given below is an 

 account of work planned substantially by the Executive Committee 

 of the preceding year. Similarly, the recommendations made with 

 respect to the ensuing year are mainly in accord with the lines of 

 policy hitherto followed by the Executive Committee. The addi- 

 tional experience of this year seems to confirm, especially, the wisdom 

 of concentrating the resources of the Institution on a small number 

 of large projects rather than on a large number of small projects. 

 Concerning this mooted question, however, some observations will 

 be found in a later section of this report. As regards the larger 

 aspects of the work of the Institution, this report aims to give only 

 a few suggestions derived from a preliminary reconnaissance of the 

 fields of activity already entered. A survey of these fields, not to 

 mention other promising fields of activity, will obviously require 

 more than the available time of one year. 



As a matter of record, and as a matter of information to the general 

 public, which takes an enlightened interest in the affairs of the Insti- 

 tution, it seems desirable to explain briefly, in this 

 aS^ ^ode^of ^Ad- connection and at this epoch, the plan, scope, and 

 ministration of the mode of administration of those affairs. Referring 



to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, 

 published on pp. 1-8 of this volume, for a full statement of the 

 objects of the Institution and the rules adopted for its administra- 

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