706 
GEOLOGY: COMMITTEE REPORT 
Proc. N. a. S. 
THE KILAUEA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY 
By a Committee of the National Academy of Sciences 
Prepared at the Request of the Secretary of Agriculture 
Communicated by C. D. Walcott, October 8, 1920 
February 11, 1920. 
Dr. Chari.es D. Wai^cott, President, 
The National Academy of Sciences. 
Dear Sir: 
The Committee appointed by you to respond to a request from the 
Secretary of Agriculture for the advice of the National Academy of Sciences 
in regard to the conduct, by the Weather Bureau, of the Kilauea Volcano 
Observatory on the island of Hawaii, submits the following report. This 
Committee consists of Whitman Cross, Chairman, Wilham Bowie, Arthur 
L. Day, Herbert E. Gregory, and Harry Fielding Reid. The letter of 
the Secretary of Agriculture indicating the scope of the subject on which 
the assistance of the Academy is desired is as follows : 
Department of Agriculture, Washington, 
January 18, 1919. 
Dr. Charles D. Walcott, President, 
National Academy of Sciences, 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Doctor Walcott: 
May I not request the National Academy of Sciences to give the Department the 
benefit of its advice with reference to scientific questions involved in the conduct of 
investigations in seismology and volcanology, to be carried on principally at the 
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, and elsewhere as the circumstances may warrant? The 
Congress, at its last session, appropriated $10,000 for this purpose, and it apparently 
had in mind the transfer to Government support and direction of the investigations 
now under way at this volcano, under the supervision of Dr. T. A. Jaggar, which are 
supported by the Hawaiian Volcano Research Association. The Department, through 
the Weather Bureau, desires to inaugurate the work promptly and efficiently and to 
secure the best contributions to the science of volcanic and seismic actions that may 
be possible within the limited appropriation available. If the representatives of the 
Academy of Sciences designated to consider this problem desire further details rela- 
tive to the questions involved, the Chief of the Weather Bureau will be very glad to 
cooperate with them in every feasible way. I shall appreciate it if you will give the 
matter your early and favorable consideration. 
Very truly yours, 
D. F. Houston, Secretary. 
Soon after the appointment of the Committee it secured from Prof. 
C. F. Marvin, Chief of the Weather Bureau, a full statement in regard 
to the work of the Kilauea Observatory and the circumstances of its 
transfer from the Hawaiian Volcano Research Association. The Com- 
mittee is much indebted to Professor Marvin for his cordial cooperation 
at all times. 
