278 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1919. 
culties, I believe that it is within the range of possibility that some 
day we shall be able to predict earthquakes with sufficient reliability 
to give the prediction practical utility. 
SUMMARY. 
Briefly summarizing what has gone before, I conclude that the 
chief primary function of a geological survey is geological research 
and that the spirit of investigation should be the same whether the 
work is undertaken to increase knowledge and to serve as the starting 
point for further attacks on the unknown or is begun with a definite 
economic or practical result as its desired goal. Compromise and 
concession are inevitable, but the necessity for making them should 
not and need not permit the real purpose of the organization to sink 
from sight. If the members of a scientific bureau can confidently 
feel that those charged with its direction make such concessions 
wisely with the higher purposes of the bureau really at heart, their 
whole attitude towards their work will be entirely different from 
that into which they will fall if they become convinced that scientific 
ideals receive only perfunctory regard and that the real allegiance 
is directed elsewhere. 
What may be called the chief secondary function of a national 
geological survey is believed to be popular education in geology, 
both for the benefit of the people and as providing the most endur- 
ing basis for the support of such an organization by a democracy. 
Such education should be conducted through every possible channel 
and in close cooperation with all the educational institutions of the 
country. One of its objects should be the revival and encouragement 
of amateur geological observation and study. In this connection I 
heartily approve the present trend in the policy of the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science and believe that this 
great organization will fulfill its purpose and advance science much 
more effectively than at present if it will leave to the various special 
scientific societies the holding of meetings devoted to the presenta- 
tion of scientific papers, and apply itself to the popularization of 
science and to the encouragement of cooperation between different 
branches of science. 
PERSONNEL. 
Finally, a few words may be said concerning the relation between 
the personnel of a geological survey and the results obtained by the 
organization. If such a survey is to attract to its service men of first- 
rate ability and to hold these men after their development and experi- 
ence have made them of the highest value, certain inducements must 
be offered. Salary is unfortunately the first of these that comes to 
