ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ASTRONOMY I49 



II. Two Features of Astronomical REwSearch at the 



Preskxt Time. 



The first feature is a certaiti oue-sidedness of astronotiiical research 

 as it has hitherto been pursued Excluding- private establishments, 

 here and there, managed by their owners — institutions for instruction 

 only, and inactive observatories — there remain fifty or sixty observa- 

 tories of a more or less public character, supported by governments, 

 universities, or special foundations, supposed to be in a state of a.stro- 

 nomical activity. A rude estimate of the probable annual cost of 

 these institutions foots npmore than half a million dollars, and might 

 approximate to a million. They are concerned almost entirely with 

 the making, reduction, and publication of their cjrrent observations, 

 while the important work of combming these observations and those 

 made b.v our predecessors, so as to obtain from them the best ultimate 

 results for astronomy, is comparatively neglected. The few institu- 

 tions which do more or less work in this line occupy themselves 

 mainly with special branches, and not with any comprehensive com- 

 bination of the whole. Moreover, a comprehensive discussion and 

 combination of the observations of the past is beyond the power of 

 one man or of any existing organization. 



The other feature is that the astronomical agencies of the world 

 are independent organizations, and that each has generally worked 

 in its own way with little reference to what is being done by others. 

 At present there is a marked tendency to cooperation and unification, 

 but these proces.«es are slow. 



The same remark applies to the mathematical researches neces.sary 

 to the development of the science. They are made sporadically by 

 isolated individuals, each using the method which he chances to 

 have worked out or learned. 



In view of recent progress toward international unification and 

 cooperation, the time seems ripe for a general scheme for deriving 

 the best results from the astronomical work of the pa.st and present. 



To gain the highest utility from a given amount of labor it is nec- 

 e.ssary that the latter be applied upon a comprehensive plan devised 

 with especial reference to the ends ultimately in view. The follow- 

 ing survey of the field may be regarded as an attempt toward the 

 conception of such a plan, Empha.sis will be laid on those subjects 

 which require combination and cooperation, while subjects which 

 individuals are able to deal with will not be dwelt upon. 



