FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 73 



navigation, and commerce be placed upon the statute books of the 

 American Republics. 



A very brief and rapid survey of the clauses of Article 10 has been given 

 in order to show the nature and extent of these various recommendations 

 and the importance of careful investigation and study of the existing 

 laws and regulations concerning them. It is not to be supposed that any 

 one committee could adequately deal with these matters, even although 

 it were an international committee in which each Republic was repre- 

 sented. The conditions vary with different localities. The laws and 

 regulations to be framed naturally depend upon conditions obtaining 

 in the different countries. Persons engaged in their study and investi- 

 gation must be familiar with these local conditions, and, therefore, the 

 Congress determined that, instead of recommending a single commission 

 composed of a representative from each of the American Republics, each 

 Government thereof should be requested to appoint a committee to 

 investigate and study the existing laws and regulations concerning the 

 subject matter of Article 10, and, as a result of their study and investiga- 

 tion, to suggest such laws and regulations relating to the specific clauses 

 and, broadening the scope of their inquiry and usefulness, to suggest 

 laws or regulations in the interest of general industry, navigation, and 

 commerce. 



ARTICLE n. The Second Pan American Scientific Congress suggests 



that 



The question of the reclamation of arid lands is one that should 

 receive immediate and careful consideration of the Govern- 

 ments of the American Republics, to the end that there may 

 be increased areas of productive lands to meet the needs of 

 their increasing populations. 



The American Governments, particularly those in the Temperate 

 Zone, are to-day face to face with the questions covered by this resolu- 

 tion ; it is a subject which is capable of grossly improper treatment, and 

 which has been so treated in some instances. A careful study of the 

 situation is imperative in order that each American country may obtain 

 from the others the benefits to be derived from their experience. 



It will be noted that the Congress laid very great stress, and properly, 

 upon the importance of the reclamation of arid lands, and recommended 

 the careful and immediate consideration of this question by the several 

 Governments. In view of its very great importance, and also in view 

 of conditions prevailing in different countries, the Congress hesitated to 

 suggest any particular method of consideration, and contented itself with 



