98 General A. W. Greely — Geogra'phi/ of the Air. 



the predicting of floods and low waters therein, have also 

 demanded special application, ability and energy which could 

 not but somewhat impair the interest in the weather work and 

 detract from the success Avith which it was prosecuted. The 

 high degree of success in these other branches has been recog- 

 nized by those interested in the practical work involved therein. 

 The accuracy of river and flood forecasts and the ample notice 

 thereof in advance have elicited well deserved encomiums from 

 the inhabitants of the valleys of our great rivers, and the rules 

 for flood forecasts have been laid down with most satisfactory 

 results. 



It is not tlie intent to convey an idea that no further progress 

 in these various branches of work is possible, for knowledge ever 

 goes on from more to more, and improvement is the order of the 

 day. . 



The spirit toward other scientific branches of investigation, if 

 not so catholic as extremists could wish, has been so liberal as to 

 compare favorably with that of any other governmental bureau. 

 Few realize how difficult it is for an}^ l)ureau chief to obtain from 

 the legislative branch of the government sufficient appropriations 

 for the liberal support of the special duties of his bureau, but the 

 difficulty is greatly enhanced when' it is sought to obtain funds 

 for contingent purposes involving the carrying on or the investi- 

 gating of subjects relating indefiniteh^, if indeed at all, to the 

 more specific duties of the bureau. Again, instances are not rare 

 in which individuals or institutions desire to obtain the aid of 

 governmental bureaus in the investigation and support of matters 

 which, although worthy in themselves of encouragement and 

 aid, in their nature partake rather of private and personal schemes 

 than of the more general investigations for the public benefit. 

 In short, it rarely occurs that means and sense of duty permit 

 the diversion of large sums from the narrow scope of official 

 action imposed on a bureau by the limiting provisions of appro- 

 priation acts and the perhaps more important restrictions of the 

 auditing officials of the treasury. 



Considering limitations of law, restrictions of auditors, and 

 amounts of appropriations, the Signal service has shown great 

 liberality in extending aid to collateral investigations and re- 

 searches. It has spent for such purposes not simply hundreds 

 or thousands of dollars, but tens of thousands. Among other 

 noteworthy instancies involving im])ortant or essential aid ma}^ 



