WORK OF THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 257 
as exploration. The more tangible instrumentalities employed 
are (1) technical meetings, (2) popular addresses, and (3) a 
monthly magazine. 
The technical meetings are devoted to the presentation and 
discussion of the results of geographic research, the announce- 
ment of discoveries made through research or exploration, the 
discussion of methods for exploration, survey, research, record, 
etc. These meetings are somewhat informal gatherings of a body 
of working geographers, bound together by common interest in 
geographic progress. Ifach contributes, either under a set title 
or in extempore discussion, to the common stock of knowledge ; 
each is fresh from field or laboratory, and his ideas are devel- 
oped by personal contact Avith the phenomena and forces of 
the earth ; collectively, these active geographers form a hive of 
busy Avorkers, constantly engaged in extending and improving 
the science of the earth, and their researches are stimulated by 
the encouragement and association found in the Society. The 
communications are illustrated, as required, by maps, sketches, 
stereopticon vieAVS, objects, apparatus, etc. The meetings are 
o]-)en to members and guests of the Societ}q but the partici]Aants 
are chiefly geographic Avorkers and teachers. The Avorking geog- 
raphers Avho maintain tlie technical meetings are for the most 
})art officers of the scientific bureaus and of the arm}'- and navy 
of the federal government; and in no other center in the Avorld 
are there so many AVorking geographers occupied in so extensive 
a field. Other contributors come from the universities and col- 
leges and the normal and high schools of the national caj)ital and 
neighboring cities ; and still others are distinguished teachers, 
explorers, or investigators in geography from other parts of the 
country and from foreign lands. So far as the official surveys 
and other geographic operations of the federal government are 
concerned, the National Geographic Society is a scientific clear- 
ing-house in Avhich the coin of knoAvledge and the securities of 
science are e.xchanged and distrilmted to mutual benefit. 
The popular meetings are devoted to (a) addresses by distin- 
guished geograpliers on topics of current interest suggested either 
by research or exploration, and (//) series of lectures on impor- 
tant phases of geograi)hic science by distinguished investigators 
or teachers. The popular lecturers are usually leading expo- 
nents of geographic thought in this and other countries. 'I'he 
addresses are illustrated usually by stereopticon vicAvs, .some- 
times by maps ami sketches or objects in addition. 'I'lie attend- 
