REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, 1917. 27 



for men and for methods essential in the production of such knowl- 

 edge. A natural result of this demand has been a loss to the 

 departments during the j^ear of some of their ablest men, who 

 have been offered superior opportunities with commercial, edu- 

 cational, or other organizations. Such losses are compensatory, 

 however. They are normal and necessary to a progressive 

 establishment in an aggressive age. One of the highest functions 

 the Institution can fulfill is the development of men whose 

 expert qualifications fit them to meet the expanding needs of 

 other positions and organizations. 



An examination of the departmental reports to be found in the 

 current Year Book and of the bibliographic appendix following 

 this report will show that progress has been maintained in all 

 principal projects, and that these are likely to go forward without 

 serious delays in the im_mediate future. A similar examination 

 at some future epoch of the current proceedings of these depart- 

 ments and of the correspondence with them will furnish materials 

 for an instructive chapter in any comprehensive history of the 

 Institution. 



What is said above in respect to the departments of research 

 applies without sensible qualifications to the activities of the 

 Division divisiou of research associates. Their varied 

 of Research investigations have been carried on, in the main, 

 Associates. ^,-|j^ ^^iq custoiiiar}^ zeal and fertility, as may be 

 seen by reference to their reports of current progress in the Year 

 Book and to the annual bibliography of contributions to journals 

 and to the more formal publications of the Institution itself. 

 With them, however, as with the staffs of the departments of 

 research, many new duties for which their training and experi- 

 ence have specially qualified them have been assumed; so that 

 they, likewise, are contributing data for the future historian of 

 the parts played bj^ representatives of the Institution in the fate- 

 ful drama of passing events. 



FINANCIAL RECORDS. 



Financial Statement "^he sources of funds available for expenditure 



for Fiscal Year during the past fiscal year, the allotments for the 



1916-1917. year, the revertments made during the year, and 



the balances unallotted at the end of the j^ear are shown in detail 



in the following statement: 



