60 FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 



commercial and scientific intercourse and cooperation between the 

 United States and the other American Republics. Therefore the adop- 

 tion of the metric system by the United States would be a great benefit 

 economically to the general public, and it is believed that it would not be 

 without importance in promoting good will and mutual understanding. 



ARTICLE 6. The Second Pan American Scientific Congress 



Confirms the resolution recommended to the American Republics 

 by the First Pan American Scientific Congress regarding the 

 installation of meteorological organizations to serve as a basis 

 for the establishment of a Pan American meteorological 

 service, and expresses the desire that the Republics not yet 

 possessing organized meteorological services establish such as 

 soon as may be practicable. 



As questions of international importance, the various topics under 

 meteorology and seismology were considered in the Second Section of 

 the Congress. The needs especially of the organization of govern- 

 mental services for continuous observation of atmospheric and terrestrial 

 phenomena by means of common methods, intercomparable apparatus, 

 and common units were dwelt upon. Much attention was given to 

 the modes of organization and conduct of existing weather bureaus, 

 to methods of forecasting weather, and to the increasing impor- 

 tance of the application of these as an aid to agriculture, navigation, 

 and land transportation of perishable products. Much attention was 

 given also to consideration of secular phenomena in meteorology and to 

 their effects in the habitable as well as in the uninhabitable parts of the 

 globe. 



One of the most interesting topics considered as a by-product of the 

 work of the Second Section was that of the desirability of forming an 

 unofficial international association of meteorologists and seismologists for 

 the mutual exchange of ideas and experience arising from these sciences. 

 It was thought that such an organization might accomplish for mete- 

 orology and seismology results similar to those which have proved highly 

 beneficial during the past two centuries in the older physical sciences. 



It will be observed by persons familiar with the Pan American Scientific 

 Congresses, and indeed it is expressly stated in the recommendation 

 itself, that the importance of the present recommendation has been 

 hitherto recognized and called to the attention of the American coun- 

 tries by the First Pan American Congress; so that the recommenda- 

 tion in question is in reality a reaffirmation of the resolution of the First 



