REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT 



OF THE 



CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



In conformity with Article IV, section 2, of the By-Laws of 

 the Carnegie Institution of Washington, the President has the 

 honor to submit the following report on the work of the Institu- 

 tion for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1918, along with recom- 

 mendations of appropriations for the ensuing year and with 

 sundry suggestions concerning other matters of general or special 

 interest. 



This report is the seventeenth annual administrative report 

 of the Institution and is presented under the following principal 

 heads : 



1. Sahent events of the year. 



2. Researches of the year. 



3. Financial records. 



4. PubHcations of the year. 



5. BibUographical appendix. 



SALIENT EVENTS OF THE YEAR. 



It should go without saying that the absorbing events of the 

 year for the Institution, as well as for all similar estabhshments, 

 are direct and indirect consequences and exigen- 

 ^mrifwi.^ cies of the world war. The existence of such 

 organizations depends on stable governments, on 

 freedom of thought and action within hmits approved by experi- 

 ence and sanctioned by law, and on opportunities for that sort 

 of reflection which leads to the development of discoveries and 

 advances. That these fundamental requirements are now at 



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