SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHERING RESEARCH 407 



he assuredly accomplished important results, but he did not attain the 

 desired goal. 



According to agencies already existing whereby researches on sediments 

 might be conducted, the following categories can be recognized: (1) Na- 

 tional institutions; (2) State institutions; (3) privately endowed insti- 

 tutions; (4) universities. 



Of the national institutions of the United States those that should be 

 mentioned are the Geological Survey, the Bureau of Fisheries, the Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey, certain bureaus in the Department of Agriculture, 

 and the National Museum. The Geological Survey should cover a wide 

 range of phenomena, and that a subsection on sediments has been estab- 

 lished in it is at least promising. The Bureau of Fisheries is systematic- 

 ally collecting bottom samples, and as part of its oceanographic work it 

 has inaugurated a survey of the hydrogen-ion concentration in the sea, 

 in addition to acquiring data on the temperature and salinity of the water. 

 The Coast and Geodetic Survey collects bottom samples. In the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture the Bureau of Soils has made for me alone hundreds 

 of mechanical analyses of sediments, and the Bureau of Plant Industry 

 has greatly helped, particularly through the work of Kellerman on cal- 

 cium-carbonate-precipitating bacteria. The United States National Mu- 

 seum receives the samples of modern sediments collected by the different 

 governmental agencies, but it has no staff for the study of them. Al- 

 though the Federal Government has done and is doing much to further 

 knowledge of sediments, it is not doing so much as might reasonably be 

 expected of it. The Geological Survey of Canada, through Doctor Kin- 

 dle, is making valua])le contributions to knowledge of sediments in the 

 Great Lakes and in some of the marine waters of Canada. This work 

 should be encouraged and extended. If practicable, the help of others of 

 the Canadian institutions sliould be enlisted in the prosecution of such 

 investigations. 



Of the State institutions the State geological surveys would naturally 

 l;e expected to render mucli service. They have made important contri- 

 butions and it is hoped others will follow. State surveys should be able 

 to conduct researches on specific phenomena and on particular areas, such 

 as a more accurate analysis of the physical characteristics of formations 

 and the variations of formations in all three dimensions. It may also be 

 practicable for them to conduct researches on special types of deposits 

 that are well exemplified within the State boundaries, such as eolian, 

 fluviatile, lacustrine, embayment, and beach deposits. Other kinds of 

 deposits might be mentioned, but those named will serve as samples. It 



