ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON GEOPHYSICS 39 



{b) Admi7iistratio7i . The administration of such investigations 

 as are here contemplated should be as simple as possible, consistent 

 with efficiency in the prosecution of research. Those engaged in 

 research work should be as free as may be from the requirements of 

 fiscal business. The success of the enterprise will largely depend 

 upon the men who undertake research, and it may not be easy at 

 first to find men in all respects speciall}^ qualified for the work. To 

 some extent the)' must be developed by the institution itself. 



The special methods of administration likewise must be to a large 

 extent developed by the novel scope of the undertaking. Since 

 much must, therefore, be left to future developments, it seems best 

 that the original form of administration should be such as will bring 

 together a large measure of experience and proven competency, and 

 at the same time be such as will permit a change of form with the 

 greatest ease. It is obvious that it will be less difficult to pass from 

 administration by a body to administration by a head than the 

 opposite. It is clear that no one at the outsetlcan have the learning 

 and the breadth necessary to decide on the respective merits of all 

 the problems that will invite investigation, and such a genius may 

 soon arise. For these reasons it would seem best, in the early 

 history of the enterprise at any rate, to vest the control of affairs in 

 a directory or committee made up of scientists who have shown at 

 once administrative abilities, fertility in the development of prob- 

 lems, ingenuity in devising modes of solution, and success in the 

 achievement of results. 



The directory should meet at least quarterly, and as much oftener 

 as the nature of its duties may require. 



The immediate administration of the laboratory should rest in a 

 head or acting head The head should be either a geologist, with a 

 broad and accurate knowledge of many branches of geology, and 

 also well grounded in the principles of physics and chemistry, or 

 else a general physicist, who has deeply studied the broad problems 

 of the earth, and, therefore, has a working knowledge of the princi- 

 ples of geology. The head should be elected by the Trustees, or 

 executive committee upon recommendation of the directory. The 

 election of the staff other than the head may be committed to the 

 directory, or the directory may recommend the staff to be appointed 

 as seems best. 



It should be the function of the directory, subject to such rules 

 and limitations as may be determined upon, to consider all proposals 

 for investigation, to devise or mature all general plans for research, 



