60 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DP:PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



this project was included in a supplemental estimate submitted to 

 Congress for the fiscal year 1917, but was not allowed. The esti- 

 mate was not repeated for the fiscal years 1918 and 1919, but was in- 

 serted on the initiative of Congress itself for the current fiscal year. 

 The primary purpose of the appropriation is to conduct investiga- 

 tions in volcanology at Kilauea Volcano, on Hawaii Island, of the 

 Hawaiian group, with the expectation that they may be extended 

 later in Alaska and other places in the United States possessions 

 where active volcanoes exist. The site of the volcano and extensive 

 adjacent territory has recently been included in a national park. 



Investigations have been conducted at Kikuea since 1912, first under 

 the auspices of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and since 

 1913 by the Hawaiian Volcano Research Association, Avhich is com- 

 posed principally of prominent citizens of Honolulu. 



The Weather Bureau took formal control of the work at Kilauea 

 on February 15, 1919. Prof. Thomas A. Jaggar, jr., formerly of 

 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who has been in charge 

 of the investigations since their inception, has been appointed vol- 

 canologist ancl will continue in immediate charge. 



The buildings, grounds, instruments, and equipment belonging to 

 tlie Hawaiian Volcano Research Association were transferred to the 

 control of the Weather Bureau under the terms of a long-time lease. 

 Prof. Jaggar and his assistants will reside in the observatory build- 

 ings, and the major part of their work will be conducted at the Kilauea 

 Volcano, although simultaneous studies of the activities of near-by 

 volcanoes, especially Mauna Loa, will be made as far as practicable. 

 The program of work at present contemplates little more than the 

 maintenance of the systematic observations of the volcano, with 

 some possible extensions in the way of a seismic survey of the 

 vicinity. No more than this can be undertaken with present funds, 

 but as national affairs become more stabilized under peace-time con- 

 ditions the opportunity offered here of conducting extensive investi- 

 gations in the field of volcanology will no doubt be fully supported 

 and important results secured. 



AEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 



Free-air observations by means of kites were obtained throughout 

 the year at Drexel, Nebr., and Ellendale, N. Dak. Installation of 

 equipment was completed for similar work at Broken Arrow, Okla., 

 Groesbeck, Tex., Leesburg, Ga., and Royal Center, Ind. Regular 

 observations were begun at those stations before January 1, 1919. 

 These observations, as well as those at Drexel and Ellendale, include 

 daily kite flights and, whenever possible, continuous series of flights 

 covering periods of 24 to 36 hours. The records have been reduced 

 at the central office, and the results published in aerological supple- 

 ments of the Monthly AVeather Review. Moreover, brief summaries 

 are telegraphed daily to the central office and other district forecast 

 centers. 



The pilot-balloon work that w^as organized and conducted during 

 the war by the meteorological section of the Signal Corps at Broken 

 Arrow, Okla., Ellendale, N. Dak., Groesbeck, Tex., Leesburg, Ga., 

 Royal Center, Ind., and Washington, D. C., was transferred to the 



