184 The American Geologist. March, 1904. 
The various recommendations that I have made are likely 
to remain in the air, or at most to secure response only from 
isolated individual students, unless those who believe that the 
adoption of these recommendations would promote the scien- 
tific study of geography are willing to give something of their 
time and thought towards organizing a society of geograph- 
ical experts — an American Geographers Union. From such 
a union I am sure that geography would gain strength, but it 
is not yet at all clear in my mind that any significant number 
of persons would care to accept the strict conditions of organi- 
zation which appear to me essential for the success of such an 
enterprize. The most important of the conditions are as fol- 
lows : 
1st. The adoption of some definition for geography that 
shall sufficiently indicate the boundaries as well as the content 
of this broad subject. 
2d. The limitation of membership to persons with whom 
geography as thus defined is a first or at least a second interest, 
and by whom more than one geographical article of advanced 
grade, based on original observation and study, has been pub- 
lished. 
3d. The independence of the union thus constituted of all 
other geographical societies. 
Although we cannot adduce any existing geographical so- 
ciety in this country as a witness competent to prove that geog- 
raphy has sufficient unity and coherence to tempt geographers 
to form such a union as is here contemplated, a careful review 
of the problem convinces me that a sufficient unity and coher- 
ence really exist in the science, as I have here treated ; and I be- 
lieve that the formation of an American Geographers Union 
is feasible as well as desirable. 
It has been my object in this address to describe briefly the 
status of mature geography in our country, and to suggest 
several steps that might be taken for its improvement. Cer- 
tain branches of the subject have reached a high development, 
but the subject as a whole does not thrive with us. The reason 
for its relative failure is not, I believe, to be found in the very 
varied nature of its diflferent parts, but rather in the failure to 
place sufficient emphasis on those relationships by which, more 
than by anything else, geography is to be distinguished from 
