284 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



It contains no platitudes worded in 

 questionable English; it is a vigorous 

 expression of a straightforward and 

 hopeful policy that is American rather 

 than partisan. Such a message should 

 do something towards making obsolete 

 that form of party government which 

 leads one half the people to prevent the 

 other half from doing anything. Even 

 in directions such as the maintenance 

 of the present tariff and the enlarge- 

 ment of the navy, where the president's 

 policy is opposed by a strong minority, 

 it seems that he expresses the general 

 sense of the nation, and in any case 

 the division is not along the inherited 

 party lines. 



Apart from the emphasis on effi- 

 ciency and expertness in all depart- 

 ments of the government which gives 

 the whole message a certain scientific 

 coloring, there are several recommenda- 

 tions that are directly concerned with 

 science and its applications. Three 

 great engineering works are urged — 

 the Isthmian Canal, the Pacific Cable 

 and Irrigation. These enterprises are 

 directly dependent on applied science, 

 and their accomplishment, under the 

 direction of American engineers, will 

 give new opportunities for scientific 

 progress. It appears that we may need 

 to go to Great Britain for the cable, 

 but this ought not to be necessary five 

 years hence. In the case of forestry 

 and irrigation, Avhich are said to be 

 perhaps the most vital internal ques- 

 tions of the United States and are dis- 

 cussed at greater length than any 

 others, the president fully realizes the 

 need of expert and scientific direction. 

 It is recommended that the scientific 

 bureaus concerned with these subjects 

 bp united and put under the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Concerning this 

 department the president says: 



"The Department of Agriculture 

 during the past fifteen years has stead- 

 ily broadened its work on economic 

 lines, and has accomplished results of 

 real value in upbuilding domestic and 

 foreign trade. It has gone into new 



fields until it is now in touch with all 

 sections of our country and with two 

 of the island groups that have lately 

 come under our jurisdiction, whose 

 people must look to agriculture as a 

 livelihood. It is searching the world 

 for grains, grasses, fruits and vege- 

 tables especially fitted for introduction 

 into localities in the several states and 

 territories where they may add ma- 

 terially to our resources. By scientific 

 attention to soil survey and possible 

 new crops, to breeding of new varieties 

 of plants, to experimental shipments, 

 to animal industry and applied chemis- 

 try, very practical aid has been given 

 our farming and stock-growing inter- 

 ests. The products of the farm have 

 taken an unprecedented place in our 

 export trade during the year that has 

 just closed." 



The president recommends the crea- 

 tion of a cabinet officer, to be known as 

 secretary of commerce and industries. 

 He calls attention to the important 

 work of the Smithsonian Institution and 

 the needs of the National Museum. He 

 emphasizes the value of the 'National 

 Library,' and advocates a permanent 

 census bureau 'for the sake of good 

 administration, sound economy and 

 the advancement of science.' 



THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY. 



The President does not refer in his 

 message to the U. S. Naval Observa- 

 tory, but he doubtless approves the 

 recommendations in the report of Sec- 

 retary Long, which, if carried into 

 effect by the Congress, will remove the 

 difficulties which have so long inter- 

 fered with the scientific work of our 

 national observatory. Secretary Long 

 says: 



"Attention is called to the first and 

 very important report of the board of 

 visitors to the Naval Observatory. I 

 earnestly commend its recommenda- 

 tions to careful consideration. This 

 board was created by act of Congress 

 in March last. I believe its visitations 

 will be found valuable in making the 



