Reports of Institute Committee

During the year this Committee has had the benefit of the services of 75 Committee members, resident in the various States of the Union and in foreign countries, 10 of them representing us abroad. A number of plans for awakening the interest of possible new members have been carried out and the results have been very gratifying. The comparative results for 1913 and 1914 are as shown in the following table: 1913 1914 Applied for membership 630 946 Elected 450 1,006 Accepted election 433 921 When it is remembered that the depression following the outbreak of war in Europe has had more serious effect on the mining industry than almost any other, these results cannot be regarded as anything other than very encouraging. Because of the unsatisfactory conditions still prevailing it will doubtless be difficult to make even as good a showing next year. It is considered, however, that the function of this Committee is not merely to secure new members, having no regard for other than numbers; its true function is to exercise a proper supervision over the growth of the Institute, building it up in those fields in which it is weak, and directing its growth in such a way as to make it most effective in fulfilling its proper function as the national organization representative of the mining profession. The plan of inviting the alumni of the leading mining schools to apply for membership, which was initiated last year, was completed this year, with the exception of one or two schools, notably the University of California, from which we have not been able to obtain a list of alumni. With these exceptions we have now extended to the graduates of all the important mining schools of this country, and several of those abroad, an invitation to apply for membership in the Institute. It. is not thought desirable to repeat this invitation too frequently, and it is therefore suggested that this field be left alone for a year or two, when, if the mining industry experiences a marked revival of interest, it will be well to send out a second letter to the same men.