Already we have attained a useful, though limited, power of prediction.
Our Central Bureau daily collects observations by telegraph from all parts of this continent, and our experts are thus enabled to forecast the probabilities by a few hours. Day by day the results are communicated to the public by telegraph in time to avert disaster to the mariners on our eastern coast, and facilitate agricultural operations in the Eastern and Middle States.
Although many of the predictions are still falsified by events, the percentage of fulfilments has become so large as to show that continued research will in the future give us fresh forms of prediction and increase the usefulness of this branch of science to mankind.
In all departments of geographical knowledge, Americans are at work. They have pushed themselves into the front rank and they demand the best efforts of their countrymen to encourage and support.
When we embark on the great ocean of discovery, the horizon of the unknown advances with us and surrounds us wherever we go. The more we know, the greater we find is our ignorance. Because we know so little we have formed this society for the increase and diffusion of Geographical knowledge. Because our subject is so large we have organized the society into four broad sections: relating to the geography of the land, H. G. Ogden, vice-president; the sea, J. R. Bartlett, vice-president; the air, A. W. Greely, vice-president; the geographic distribution of life, C. H. Merriam, vice-president; to which we have added a fifth, relating to the abstract science of geographic art, including the art of map-making etc., A. H. Thompson, vice-president; our recording and corresponding secretaries are Henry Gannett and George Kennan.
We have been fortunate indeed to secure as Vice-Presidents men learned in each department, and who have been personally identified with the work of research.
GEOGRAPHIC METHODS IN GEOLOGIC INVESTIGATION.
BY W. M. DAVIS.
OUTLINE.