THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 15 



ernment bureaus engaged in scientific research, a group of in- 

 vestigators representing educational institutions and research 

 foundations, and another group including representatives of 

 industrial and engineering research, was accordingly consti- 

 tuted by the Academy with the active cooperation of the leading 

 scientific and engineering societies. The important part taken 

 by the Engineering Foundation, which voted to apply its entire 

 income for the year toward the expense of organization, to give 

 the services of its Secretary, and to provide a New York office 

 for the Research Council, is a noteworthy illustration of the 

 cordial support given by the engineers. 



On July 24, 1916, President Wilson addressed the following 

 letter to the President of the National Academy : 



WASHINGTON, D. C, July 24, 1916. 

 Dr. William H. Welch, 



President of the National Academy of Sciences, Baltimore, 



Maryland. 



MY DEAR DR. WELCH : I want to tell you with what gratification 

 I have received the preliminary report of the National Research 

 Council, which was formed at my request under the National 

 Academy of Sciences. The outline of work there set forth and 

 the evidences of remarkable progress towards the accomplishment 

 of the object of the Council are indeed gratifying. May I not 

 take this occasion to say that the Departments of the government 

 are ready to cooperate in every way that may be required, and that 

 the heads of the Departments most immediately concerned are now, 

 at my request, actively engaged in considering the best methods of 

 cooperation ? 



Representatives of government bureaus will be appointed as 

 members of the Research Council as the Council desires. 

 Cordially and sincerely yours, 



(Signed) WOODROW WILSON. 



An Executive Order, requesting the National Academy to 

 perpetuate the National Research Council, defining its duties, 

 and providing for the cooperation of the Government, was 

 subsequently issued by the President. 



