HISTORY OF THE BULLETIN 25 



the high standard originally adopted and steadfastly insisted upon by the 

 Council, It is not exaggeration to assert that the annual volume is welcomed 

 by those interested in this branch of science as a valuable and substantia] 

 contribution to the geological knowledge and literature of the world. If minor 

 criticism is allowable on such an occasion, the Editor could make an earnest 

 plea for greater condensation. 



You have already been told how the way to its success was paved by those 

 great creative leaders who blazed the geological trails in our country. With 

 the vision of the prophets of old, they saw that ultimately the United States 

 was to be the great luminary in the geological firmament. They realized the 

 necessity for some medium of expression free from all trammel — a medium 

 which would encourage and unify by publication, as well as by association, 

 the army of younger workers who would be required in the field of American 

 geology. 



Their method of procedure and its results were alike admirable. As the aged 

 negro, who, when overtaken by a violent storm, accompanied by great darkness 

 and terrific thunder, prayed for more light and less noise, so the founders of 

 our Society sought and obtained the maximum distribution of geologic light 

 with the minimum of administrative noise. 



Although formed on lines of severe simplicity and having to do almost en- 

 tirely with those of modest means, the organization has given to the scientific 

 world more than 15,000 pages of text, illustrated with 1,122 plates and many 

 more text figures. It has expended for that purpose at least $50,000, exclusive 

 of the cost of administration, and has at the present time substantial assets 

 in its treasury. This is financial thrift and skill of a sufficiently high order 

 to warrant representation in the management of the Government's new mone- 

 tary scheme. 



The Society's name and its publications are known wherever geology is 

 studied or taught, and this achievement has been greatly aided by the un- 

 swerving loyalty and devotion which characterize the membership. No member 

 is ever so busy as to be unwilliiig to take time for the Society's affairs. 



Another great tower of strength has been the conservatism exhibited in the 

 matter of administrative changes. Of course, annual presidential rotation was 

 a necessity, conferring, as it does, great distinction, but in twenty-four years 

 there have been but three secretaries, three treasurers, two librarians, two 

 editors, and one printer, who, it should be stated, takes as much personal pride 

 in the Bulletin as if he were an actual member. Here, again, is manifested 

 the benefits arising from the spirit of cooperation. 



Surely on such an occasion as this indulgence in a little personal reminis- 

 cence is permissible. In the past twenty-one years the office of the present 

 editor has been most peripatetic ; in fact, frequently it has been in his satchel 

 en route to distant places. The Bulletin has been edited from beautiful Wash- 

 ington to the wilds of Alaska ; from gay Paris to the quiet of Lohg Island ; on 

 railroad trains and on steamship lines ; in the field, and even while studying 

 the financial geology of the Wall Street quadrangle. Permit me to digress a 

 moment in order to demonstrate the fact, as yet quite unknown, that this last 

 named district presents many geological facies of profound interest. In this 

 area subterranean, dynamic forces of great power and magnitude are con- 

 tinually at work. Financial geology is made fresh every minute — sometimes 



