funds to defray the traveling expenses of members,
nor did the government ever appropriate money for this purpose.

For seven years it became increasingly doubtful whether the
organization would not be abandoned. Several of the most eminent
members took no interest whatever in the academy,--did not attend
the meetings, but did tender their resignations, which, however,
were not accepted. This went on at such a rate that, in 1870,
to avoid a threatened dissolution, a radical change was made in
the constitution. Congress was asked to remove the restriction upon
the number of members, which it promptly did. Classes and sections
were entirely abandoned. The members formed but a single body.
The method of election was simplified,--too much simplified, in fact.

The election of new members is, perhaps, the most difficult and
delicate function of such an organization. It is one which cannot be
performed to public satisfaction, nor without making many mistakes;
and the avoidance of the latter is vastly more difficult when the
members are so widely separated and have little opportunity to discuss
in advance the merits of the men from whom a selection is to be made.
An ideal selection cannot be made until after a man is dead, so that
his work can be summed up; but I think it may fairly be said that,
on the whole, the selections have been as good as could be expected
under the conditions.

Notwithstanding the indifference of the government to the possible
benefits that the academy might render it, it has--in addition to
numerous reports on minor subjects--made two of capital importance
to the public welfare. One of these was the planning of the United
States Geological Survey, the other the organization of a forestry
system for the United States.

During the years 1870-77, besides several temporary surveys or
expeditions which had from time to time been conducted under the
auspices of the government, there were growing up two permanent
surveys of the territories. One of these was the Geographical
Survey of territories west of the 100th meridian, under the Chief
of Engineers of the Army; the other was the Geological Survey of
the territories under the Interior Department, of which the chief
was Professor F. V. Hayden.

The methods adopted by the two chiefs to gain the approval of the
public and the favoring smiles of Congress were certainly very
different. Wheeler's efforts were made altogether by official
methods a