86 CARXKGIE INSTITUTION 



The nominations to these professorships of chemistry rciight l>e 

 made by a disinterested foreign committee of experts, such as 

 J. H. van^t Hoff, K. Fischer, W. Ostwald, M. BertheJot, and 

 W. Ranisa> ; or else the candidates might be selected by the inde- 

 pendent voting of a large number of the ieadiiig AriiericaSi chemists. 

 Of course the appcintnunt would rest with the Trustees. 



This idea is Jiot wholly Tiew. The German Government has 

 already begun to establish somewhat similar professorships, and 

 unless America does likewise there is danger of our dropping yet 

 farther behind. 



It seems to ine that the establishnieiit of these professorships 

 would not only benefit science through the aprxjintees, but would 

 also furnish an immense stimulus to the prosecution of research 

 among younger men. At present an intelligent and far sighted 

 man perceives that he cannot hope to provide comfortably for a 

 family if he gives bis chief energy to research. There is no pros- 

 pect in that direction. The able teacher or administrative oihcer 

 in a college may become president, the able inventor may secure a 

 competency through his patents, but the pure inv<i«tigator is doomed 

 to poverty. There is no doubt that this lack of prospective ad- 

 vancement has driven many a brilliant A.mericau away from, the 

 vastly important field of activity which it is the oihce of the Car- 

 negie Institution to foster. 



Most respectfully submitted. 



T. W. Richards. 



October 14, 1902. 



