NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
723 
Minerals, constituted to represent the American Institute of Mining Engineers, 
United States Geological Survey, United States Bureau of Mines and the 
National Research Council. 
As its operations combine the joint activities of several organizations, it is 
transmitting its reports through the organizations in its representation. The 
Committee has been effective for the past four months, in which time it has 
taken a census of the minerals required in war preparations of all kinds, 
particularly with reference to amoimts imported, stock on hand, production, 
active and suspended, possible enlargement of production; and it has inaugu- 
rated surveys in several states, partly under Government and partly under 
state auspices, for the purpose of perfecting data of present and increased 
production, to determine new ore bodies and invite prompt exploitation 
thereof. The work is important; it has already instigated wide-spread ac- 
tivity throughout the country in the search for mineral supplies; it has ascer- 
tained with approximate accuracy the most imperious exigencies of these war 
industries; it has led to direct recommendations to the Secretary of War; and 
it is effectively aiding the labors of the War Industries Board. 
5. Pacific Coast Sub-committee on Geology. — This has recently been organ- 
ized for active service. Its personnel is made up of men representing the 
states of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, and in its Chairman 
and several of his associates has the benefit of experience and achievement 
in connection with the scientific work of the State Defense Council of 
California. 
6. Geology of Cantonments and Geological Instruction in Training Camps. — 
This sub-committee has recently been organized and the work it has laid out 
consists in: 
{a) The preparation of topographic and geological maps of the canton- 
ments and camps and their environs, for a radius of about 20 miles. 
{h) Preparation of descriptive matter explanatory of such maps, to be 
printed, both with them and in separate pamphlet form. 
{c) Provision for instruction in geology and physiography, to be undertaken 
in connection with tho mobilization and training camps. 
Each phase of this work has been initiated. The preparation of the maps 
and their description are being carried out by the Government and the State 
Geological Surveys. The courses of instruction, if approved by the War De- 
partment, will be given in most cases by geographers and geologists who are 
conveniently situated with reference to the geographicall :)cation cf the camps. 
7. Among the earliest suggestions of service before this Committee was the 
possibility of constructing a superior armor for the National Army, on the 
basis of the construction in the armored Devonian fishes. 
In conjunction with the Sub-committee on Protective Body Armor of the 
Engineering Committee of the Council and under the direction of the Ord- 
nance Bureau, Dr. Dean, curator of the Department of Arms and Armor in 
