( xi ) 



facts are, nevertheless, frequently found to be valuable 

 contributions to the general stock of knowledge. Were 

 it possessed of the requisite funds, the society might 

 establish a higher reputation by the publication of inde- 

 pendent transactions. Inasmuch, however, as this is not 

 the case, the next best plan should be adopted, namely, 

 that of publishing papers in full through other channels, 

 such, for instance, as the Smithsonian Institution, the re- 

 ports of government bureaus, and scientific journals. In. 

 such cases, the bulletin should contain references as to where 

 the articles in full are to appear, and in this respect it 

 would do good service in assisting to make more generally 

 known the valuable contributions to science which are 

 diffused through voluminous executive and congressional 

 documents not readily accessible to the scientific world. 



The editing of the bulletin should be under the direc- 

 tion of the secretaries and a committee appointed for the 

 purpose, and a number should be issued as often as mate- 

 rial of the proper character and of sufficient quantity is 

 accumulated. It should be distributed to the principal 

 learned societies of this and other countries, and may also 

 be presented to leading journals in this and other cities. 

 Without at least such a publication, the society cannot 

 have a recognized existence. 



I have stated that there is no city in the United States, 

 in proportion to the number of its inhabitants, where there 

 are so many men of education actively engaged in pursuits 

 connected with science as in Washington. In illustration 

 of this remark I may refer to those who are engaged in 

 the Coast Survey, the Office of AVeights and Measures, the 

 National Observatory, the Nautical Almanac, Patent Office, 

 Engineer Department, Hydrographic Office, Ordnance De- 



