REPORT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL. 25 



This congress had its origin in the scientific congresses that had been 

 held by the RepubHcs of Latin America prior to the congress in Santiago, 

 which was organized with the generous conviction that the United States 

 should share in their undertaking. This conviction was splendidly shown 

 in the unsolicited and voluntary action of the Santiago Congress in the 

 selection of Washington, D. C, as the place of meeting of the second 

 congress which, it is confidently hoped, will mark an important step in the 

 development of closer intellectual ties among the participating countries. 

 The general purposes of the congress are the presentation and discussion 

 of subjects of scientific interest, especially those that are most important 

 or useful to Pan American countries in general, and the formation of 

 personal acquaintances among representatives of the American Republics. 



In view of the fact that this second congress is to be held under the 

 auspices of the Government of the United States, it is highly desirable 

 that our foremost scientists, learned societies, and educational institu- 

 tions cooperate in order to insure the success of this congress, which is 

 established with the object of increasing the exchange of knowledge and 

 bringing about a better understanding of the ways in which the several 

 Republics can work to the advancement of science, the increase of 

 culture, and the promotion of trade, commerce, and mutual helpfulness. 



The congress will be divided into nine sections, as follows: 



I. Anthropology. 

 II. Astronomy, meteorology, and seismology. 



III. Conservation of natural resources, agriculture, irrigation, 



and forestry. 



IV. Education. 

 V. Engineering. 



VI. International law, public law, and jurisprudence. 

 VII. Mining and metallurgy, economic geology, and applied 



chemistry. 

 VIII. Public health and medical science. 

 IX. Transportation, commerce, finance, and taxation. 



The executive committee of the scientific congress begs, therefore, to 

 extend to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 meeting in San Francisco August 2 to 6, 1915, the greetings of the Second 

 Pan American Scientific Congress and to express the hope that this great 

 association will honor the scientific congress by arranging to attend and 

 participate in the sessions of the latter on the adjournment of the annual 

 meeting of the association in Columbus, Ohio, the last week of December, 

 1 91 5. It will be the pleasure of the executive committee of the Pan 



