Vol.. 6, 1920 
GEOLOGY: COMMITTEE REPORT 
709 
involved in the conduct of investigations" in these fields are many and 
complex. The cooperation of geologists, physicists, chemists, geodesists, 
and other specialists with volcanologists and seismologists is necessary 
both in constructing a plan for such research and in carrying it out. 
In the abstract it is plain, we believe, that a general scheme of investi- 
gation in either seismology or volcanology is distinctly beyond the proper 
scope of the Weather Bureau's activities. This Committee cannot 
recommend that the Weather Bureau should organize special depart- 
ments of research in these sciences. But there are conditions at the 
present time which make it both appropriate and fortunate that the 
Weather Bureau should assume the conduct of observation at the Kilauea 
Observatory. These modifying conditions will now be reviewed. 
From the beginning of human history earthquakes and volcanic erup- 
tions with their associated tidal waves have been perhaps the most awe- 
inspiring and terribly devastating manifestations of natural forces. They 
have occurred at irregular intervals, unexpectedly as a rule, and in widely 
separated parts of the world. Owing to long prevailing ignorance or crude 
ideas as to the causes of these phenomena, and to the difficulties in the 
way of making extended scientific observations concerning them, the 
sciences of seismology and volcanology are still in a poorly developed 
state. Science is as yet unable to predict where or when the next great 
catastrophic exhibition of either earthquake or volcanic activity may 
be experienced. Our present knowledge is sufficient, however, to show 
that, as our understanding of the source, the cause, and the nature of 
these phenomena increases, we shall gain in some measure a power to 
anticipate violent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and to guard more 
and more successfully against their destructive and terrifying results. 
It is essential to the future advance of seismology and volcanology that 
provision should be made to secure extensive and accurate observations 
and record of the phenomena involved. Studies of this kind must be 
carried on at the most favorable centres for such work, and according to 
plans of investigation representing the best information of the time. 
The extent and complexity of the work requires that it should be under 
the direction of an organization planned for the purpose. As the earth- 
quakes or volcanic eruptions of to-day may be in the United States, 
Italy and Japan , those of to-morrow in New Zealand, Africa, or Iceland, 
and equally scattered at other times, it is plain that the researches in 
various countries, whatever their auspices, should be conducted on the 
same general plan, and that a world-wide correlation of data and coopera- 
tion in effort is of the greatest importance. In the closing paragraphs 
of this report is a statement of the reorganization now in progress, of 
international agencies intended to promote such cooperation. 
The development of delicate automatic registering instruments for 
measuring the intensity and periodicity of earth tremors and analyzing 
