122 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXIII. No. 578. 



mooted question, however, some observa- 

 tions will be found in a later section of this 

 report. As regards the larger aspects of 

 the work of the institution, this report aims 

 to give only a few suggestions derived from 

 a preliminary reconnaissance of the fields 

 of activity already entered. A survey of 

 these fields, not to mention other promising 

 fields of activity, will obviously require 

 more than the available time of one year. 



Existing Plan, Scope and Mode of Admin- 

 istration of the Institution. 

 As a matter of record, and as a matter 

 of information to the general public, which 

 takes an enlightened interest in the affairs 

 of the institution, it seems desirable to ex- 

 plain briefly, in this connection and at this 

 epoch, the plan, scope and mode of admin- 

 istration of those affairs. Referring to the 

 articles of incorporation and by-laws, pub- 

 lished on pages 1-8 of the 'Year Book,' for 

 a full statement of the objects of the insti- 

 tution and the rules adopted for its admin- 

 istration, the fields in which its activities 

 are now concentrated may be summarized 

 under four principal heads, namely : 



1. Large projects, whose execution re- 

 quires continuous research, usually by a 

 corps of investigators, during a series of 

 years. Ten such projects are already under 

 way. 



2. Small projects, which are usually car- 

 ried on by individual experts during a lim- 

 ited p.eriod of time. About three hundred 

 grants in aid of such projects have thus far 

 been made. 



3. Tentative investigations, carried on by 



young men and women who have shown 

 aptitude for research and have desired to 

 pursue specific problems for one or two 

 years. A limited number of persons have 

 been aided by the institution in this line of 

 work in the hope that some of them might 

 develop exceptional abilities. 



4. Considerable sums of money have been 

 allotted annually for the publication of 

 meritorious works which would not other- 

 wise be readily printed, and for the pub- 

 lication of the reports and results of the 

 investigations carried on under the auspices 

 of the institution. This promises to be a 

 fruitful field of activity. About forty vol- 

 umes of works in diverse fields have already 

 been issued. 



Briefly described, the administration of 

 the institution is vested in a board of trus- 

 tees, which meets annually. During the 

 intervals between the meetings of the board 

 of trustees, the affairs of the institution 

 are conducted by an executive committee, 

 chosen by and from the trustees, acting 

 through the president of the institution as 

 chief executive officer. 

 Financial Statement for the Year 1904-5. 



The following table shows the balances 

 brought forward from previous appropria- 

 tions; the amounts appropriated for the 

 year 1904-5 by the board of trustees at 

 their meeting of December 13, 1904; the 

 revertments during the year; the totals 

 available for expenditure during the year; 

 the allotments for the year, and the unal- 

 lotted balances for large grants, minor 

 grants, research assistants, publication and 

 administration, respectively : 



