230 MATHEWS AND LITTLE GEOLOGY AND GEOGEArHY IN THE U. S. 



Average annual flow. — The average flow of men into geology and geog- 

 raphy is a matter of interest and the schedules have been studied from 

 this viewpoint. The persons included are the men now living, and the 

 true figures could only be gained by incorporating all of those who have 

 died. Since geologists and geographers are proverbially healthy and the 

 profession in this country dates numerically from 1870 or later, the con- 

 clusions drawn from living men are not far from what they would be if 

 based on all geologists, living and dead, who have obtained their educa- 

 tion during the last fifty years. Ten hundred and thirty-four Bachelors 

 received degrees, according to the following table : 



Geologists and Geographers arranged chronologically 



Bachelors Masters Doctors 



Before 1870 36 7 6 



1870-1874. 20 8| 



1875-1879 22 0| 



1880-1884 48 12 8 



1885-1889 50 22 18 



1890-1894 77 34 27 



1895-1899 101 35 52 



1900-1904 135 ' 70 47 



1905-1909 188 90 58 



1910-1914 22S 128 75 



1915-1919 137 86 95 



In general the Bachelor's degrees are taken at about age 22, the Mas- 

 ter's at 24, and the Doctor's at 26. A few instances where the degrees 

 were taken out of course modify these figures unduly and are not con- 

 sidered in the general statement. 



"When the number of Bachelor's degrees are plotted by years, the curve 

 shows an average annual range of about 10 in 3 to 5-year cycles, with the 

 maxima and minima points on a smooth curve from 1880 to 1908. Dur- 

 ing succeeding years there are wide fluctuations. The values vary from 

 27 in 1910 to 72 in 1912, back to 21 in 1915. Since the latter date the 

 returns are too uncertain to forecast whether or not the annual flow will 

 be resumed on its former scale. The excessive number in 1912 is entirely 

 out of proportion and represents a marked departure from normality. 

 The figures show that the number graduating from college each year who 

 entered the ranks of geologists and have showed interest in the scientific 

 aspects of the subject averaged less than 25 men during the last 40 years, 

 increasing steadily from the 80's on to 1910. The subsequent studies of 

 men receiving advanced degrees confirm the impression that the accom- 

 modations in universities for advanced training of a uniform stream of 

 50 to 60 per annum will meet the requirements for some years to come. 



