METHODS FOR PROMOTING RESEARCH IN THE 



EXACT SCIENCES. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 



IvCtter of Professor Newcomb 179 



Letter of H. H. Turner 182 



Letter of Karl Pearson 184 



Letter of Lord Rayleigh 188 



Letter of G. H. Darwin 189 



Letter of Arthur Schuster 190 



Letter of Edward C. Pickering 193 



Copies of the following letter of Dr. vSimon Newcomb, iti which 

 he explains his views of the "method by which the Carnegie Insti- 

 tution can best promote research work in the exact sciences," were 

 sent to several prominent scientific men. A number of the replies 

 which were received follow Dr. Newcomb' s letter. 



\Letter of Simon Newcomb.^ 



Washington, D. C, Afay 12, igo^. 



The following is a brief summary of views which I have at various 

 times expressed to officers of the Carnegie Institution or made known 

 to the public. They embody my well-matured opinion as to the 

 method by which the Carnegie Institution can most effectively pro- 

 mote research in the exact sciences. I begin by setting forth the 

 main features of the situation. 



I. 



The nineteenth century has been industriously piling up a vast 

 mass of astronomical, meteorological, magnetical, and sociological 

 observations and data. This accumulation is going on without end 

 and at great expense in everj^ civilized country. 



The problem of working out the best results from these observa- 

 tions is one which is not being effectively grappled with. The best 

 methods of attacking the problem are little known to investigators 

 in general, being scarceh^ developed in a systematic form. The 

 result is that what has been done toward obtaining results consists 

 largely in piecemeal efforts b^' individuals, frequently leading to no 

 well-established results. 



Another feature of the situation is the gradual extension of the 

 principles of exact science into the biological and sociological field. 



179 



