7 34 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



connection with the purposes in view. It should be plain and substan- 

 tial outwardly, sufficiently spacious within, accessible to much sun- 

 light and away from the heavier jar of traffic. The suburbs of a great 

 city would be perhaps the most advantageous position for it to occupy. 

 The most serious considerations, however, would concern its interior 

 arrangements. It should, of course, contain a sufficient number of 

 rooms for the accommodation of different branches of research ; for ex- 

 ample, a photometric room, another for gas analysis, a third for elec- 

 tric measurement, a fourth for calorimetric work, and so on. In the 

 basement, connecting with the solid earth, might be placed a number 

 of heavy stone piers for the support of very delicate instruments. 

 One important item of apparatus would be a steam-engine. This, 

 together with the chemical furnaces and a small machine-shop, might 

 be provided for in a cheap out-building apart from the main structure. 

 Steam, gas, and water, should of course be available in all parts of the 

 laboratory. 



But although expense could be avoided in the building, it ought not 

 to be dodged in the purchase of instruments. These would necessa- 

 rily be of the most costly character. Mere models, such as are com- 

 monly used for class instruction, would not suffice. Every instrument 

 of precision used in the laboratory should be a standard of its kind, 

 the best which could be made ; otherwise the work of the institution 

 might fall short of the high character intended for it. So also with 

 the chemicals : only the best should be tolerated. As for a library, 

 fitted for scientific reference-work, the cost would depend much upon 

 locality. In a country town, away from other collections of books, 

 the expense would be considerable ; but near a city provided with 

 libraries the outlay need not be very great. Still, some money would 

 have to be expended in this very important direction. 



Next as regards the working-staff. Since the researches to be 

 undertaken are mainly those which involve the cooperation of special- 

 ists, we must start with a sufficiently large and varied body of men. 

 At the head of the institution there ought to be a man of thorough 

 training, proved ability, broad general ideas, and great executive 

 capacity. He should guide and systematize all the work of the labo- 

 ratory, and to him, as to the director of an observatory, the others 

 should be subordinate. Under him should be at least the following 

 corps of principals : one chemist, one electrician, a specialist in heat, 

 another in optics, a mathematician, and an expert mechanic. Upon 

 the last-named individual would devolve the duty of constructing, 

 altering, or repairing apparatus. To this main staff might be added 

 assistants, as many as the means of the laboratory would allow. Some 

 of these minor positions could perhaps be filled by means of fellow- 

 ships, analogous to those recently established by the Johns Hopkins 

 University. It might be feasible also to admit private investigators 

 and post-graduate students to the advantages for research afforded 



