Report of the Secretaries. 297 
was charged, 1 was a field meeting at the Great Falls of the 
Potomac on May 21, 1 was a special meeting for considering ways 
and means for increasing the Society’s usefulness, 1 was the meet- 
ing for presentation of the annual address of the President for 
1889 (delayed by reason of absence of the President from the 
city), 1 was the meeting for the presentation of the President’s 
address for 1890, and 1 the annual meeting for the election of 
officers and transaction of business. 
At the regular meetings for the reading and discussion of 
papers, the average attendance was 170, the highest being 850 
and the lowest 25. 
The Board of Managers have held 23 meetings for transacting 
the business of the Society, of which 13 were regular and 10 
were special meetings. The highest attendance of the 17 mem- 
‘bers composing the Board was 13, and on several occasions there 
has been no quorum. 
Changes in the Board.—On November 5, the Recording Secre- 
tary, Mr. Henry Gannett, resigned, and the Board of Managers 
filled the vacancy by electing Mr. Marcus Baker in his place. 
The Board then elected Mr. Gannett as one of the Managers. 
On December 9, Mr. O. H. Tittmann resigned the office of Cor- 
responding Secretary, and Dr. J. C. Welling resigned from the 
Board of Managers. The vacancies thus created have not been 
filled. 
Explorations.—In the month of May the Board of Managers 
decided to send a party to the vicinity of Mt. St. Elias, Alaska, 
for the purpose of making geographic and geologic exploration 
and survey. Funds for the purpose were obtained in part from 
the treasury of the Society, in part from private subscription and 
in part from the codperation of the U. 8. Geological Survey. Mr. 
I. C. Russell, Geologist of the U. 8. Geological Survey, was 
placed in charge ot the party and of geologic work, and Mr. 
Mark B. Kerr, Topographer, also of the U. 8. Geclogical Survey, 
was sent in charge of the topographic work. 
Through the kindly coédperation of the U. 8. Navy Depart- 
ment and of the U. 8S. Revenue Marine, both of which furnished 
transportation, the party reached the field of work and was 
brought away at the close of their labors without mishap or loss 
of time. The party, consisting all told of nine persons, were 
enabled to spend about three months in exploration and survey of 
a most interesting and unknown region filled with gigantic moun- 
