May 7, 1920] 



SCIENCE 



457 



a sufficient number will take this up to insure 

 the complete success of the project. 



E. W. ISTelson, 

 Chief of Bureau 



THE PACIFIC COAST DIVISION OF THE AMERI- 

 CAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE- 

 MENT OF SCIENCE 



The fourth annual convention of the Pa- 

 cific Coast Division of the American Asso- 

 piation for the Advancement of Science vrill 

 meet at the University of "Washington, Seattle, 

 on June 17, to continue three days. Delegates 

 from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, 

 Montana, Nevada and British Columbia, will 

 be present. It is expected that more than 250 

 scientists will take part in the proceedings. 



Delegates from California, Stanford, Ore- 

 gon, Idaho, Washington and Southern Cali- 

 fornia universities, California Institute of 

 Technology, Scripps Institute, Oregon Agri- 

 cultural College, Eeed College and Washing- 

 ton State College have beea asked to attend 

 the research conferences, which are under the 

 direction of the National Research Council. 



Morning sessions the first two days, Thurs- 

 day and Friday, June 17 and 18, will be de- 

 voted to meetings of the affiliated societies, the 

 Western Society of Naturalists, Pacific Fish- 

 eries Society, American Physical Society, As- 

 tronomical Society of the Pacific, Cordilleran 

 Section of the Geological Society of America, 

 Pacific Coast branch of the Paleontological 

 Society, American Phytopathological Society, 

 San Francisco section of the American Mathe- 

 matical Society, Seismological Society, Ameri- 

 can Chemical Society, Cooper Ornithological 

 Club, Ecological Society of America, Society 

 of American Foresters and Research Society. 



The program includes registration, programs 

 of the affiliated societies, a symposium on fish- 

 eries, Seattle automobile drives and welcoming 

 addresses by President Henry Suzzallo and 

 John C. Merriam, dean of faculties of the 

 University of California, president of the 

 Pacific Coast division of the American Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science and 

 chairman of the states relations committee of 

 the National Research Council. A Sigma Xi- 

 Phi Beta Kappa lecture will be arranged for 



on Friday evening. Provision will be made 

 for excursions to Rainier National Park and 

 the Biological and Astronomical stations, 

 Snoqualmie Falls and other points of interest, 

 and a reception at the University of Washing- 

 ton last evening. 



THE RESIGNATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF 

 THE BUREAU OF MINES 



Dr. Van H. Manning, director of the Bu- 

 reau of Mines, Department of the Interior, 

 has tendered his resignation, effective on 

 June 1, to President Wilson. Dr. Manning is 

 leaving the government service to accept the 

 position of director of research with the 

 recently organized American Petroleimi In- 

 stitute, the most important body of petroleum 

 men of the country. 



In his letter to the President, Dr. Mann- 

 ing says : 



I hereby tender you my resignation, to take ef- 

 fect June 1, 1920, as director of the Bureau of 

 Mines. 



It will be with reluctance and deep regret that 

 I shall sever my connection with the Department 

 of the Interior after thirty-four years of active 

 service therein, and it is the opportunity of being 

 able to continue in another capacity the work for 

 the advancement of purposes fostered by the de- 

 partment that has been the chief factor in deter- 

 mining my decision to resign. 



I take this opportunity to express my sincere ap- 

 preciation of the confidence that you have reposed 

 in me as a public ofiieial and of the cordial co- 

 operation of the departmental executives whom I 

 have been able to serve. Especially I appreciate 

 your constant help in my efforts to develop an or- 

 ganization that has at heart the welfare of the 

 public, the advancement of the mineral industry, 

 and the safety of the two milUon workers who con- 

 tribute to the success of that industry. 



In leaving the government service there comes 

 to me, as it has over and over again, the thought 

 that although this government spends each year 

 many millions of dollars in useful scientific work 

 for the benefit of the whole people, the monetary 

 recognition of its scientific and technical servants 

 is not sufficient to enable them to continue in the 

 service for the people. This has been especially 

 true within the last few years when it has been 

 impossible for many men to remain in the govern- 

 ment service. 



