ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE BOARD OF 

 MANAGERS, JUNE 1, 1900 



The National Geographic Society should be in fact what its name 

 implies — a national organization with national representation. The 

 plan that has been adopted in the past of confining its active meni- 

 l)er.slnp to residents of the city of Washington, D. C, has made of it 

 ]>racticalh^ a local society, although its charter is broad enough to 

 enable it to take in all who are interested in geogra])hic science. 



It was the polic}' of our late President, Hon. Gardiner G. Hubbard, 

 and it has been my policy since taking the reins of office, to enlarge 

 the outside membership so as to place the Society ui:>on a national 

 l)lane. 



As we only come in touch with outside members through the 

 Natioxal Geographic Magazine, it seemed to be the part of wisdom 

 to begin our efforts at expansion by devoting special attention to the 

 Magazine. It has always been recognized as one of the best geo- 

 graphic periodicals in existence ; but our editorial staff has been 

 composed of busy men, liaving their primary work in life in other 

 fields of labor, so that the Magazine, although excellent in quality, 

 was sometimes crowded out b}' other work, and appeared irregularly. 



I felt so convinced that the Magazine would ])rove to be the lever 

 to move the Society into the desired position that last year I recom- 

 mended, as an experiment, that arrangements should be made 

 wiiereb}' one of the editorial staff should be enabled to devote his 

 wiiole time to the interests of the Magazine and the growth of the 

 Societ}'. The plan was approved ; the experiment has been made ; 

 the year of trial has i)assed, and we have now to consider the results. 



First, ill. regard to the. Magazine : The editors are to be congratu- 

 lated on the fact that the}'- are now able to get the Magazine out on 

 time, so that it is now reviewed along with the other monthly ]>eriod- 

 icals of even date — such journals as the Review of Revieivs reprinting 

 several of the longer articles. The multitudinous press cuttings re- 

 ceived through agencies indicate that the excellence of its contents is 

 recognized very generally by the press of the country, and that news- 

 papers in many different parts of America are ((noting from its pages. 



The Magazine is undoubtedly exerting a greater and more wide- 

 ^|M(;a(l influence than it has ever done before. 



