WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 31 



not be overestimated in their importance to the people of the Middle 

 West. 



Doctor Me Gee was generous in his encouragement of this Associa- 

 tion in the work which it has endeavored to perform, and whenever 

 possible he rendered active assistance. In May, 1910, he delivered 

 before this Association an address on the Conservation of Natural 

 Resources which was a source of inspiration as well as of information. 

 The Mississippi Valley Historical Association, therefore, recognizes 

 in the death of Doctor Me Gee a distinct loss to the cause which this 

 Association represents. 



From the National Conservation Association: 



We whose names are hereunder written, having been appointed to 

 represent the National Conservation Association at a meeting of the 

 Washington Academy of Sciences on December 5, 1913, in commem- 

 oration of the late Doctor W J McGee, and desiring to make fitting 

 and formal record of our action to that end, have adopted the fol- 

 lowing minute, and request that it be entered upon the records of the 

 Washington Academy of Sciences on behalf of the National Con- 

 servation Association. 



Of the enduring value of Doctor McGee's contributions to science 

 through the study of primitive men and institutions, and the investi- 

 gation of the structure, history, and resources of the earth it is more 

 fitting that others speak. It is our privilege to remember with grati- 

 tude the patriot and lover of mankind, whose insight perceived the 

 relation of such studies to the problem of present and future human 

 welfare, whose inspiration applied to that problem the scientific 

 method in a quantitative measurement of the natural resources which 

 are the basis of the life of all, and whose soul cried out for the equal 

 participation of all in these impartial gifts of Nature. We honor the 

 statesman whose vision, undimmed by political traditions or super- 

 stitions, foresaw a true government of the people made efficient to 

 achieve general welfare for the people by the extension of National 

 power to all National ends, and by a trained executive free to serve 

 the people and responsible only to them. We mourn the great- 

 hearted leader and friend whose thought was always of the work in 



