20 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 



Problem of Organization. 



It seems almost superfluous to add that the prompt equipment 

 and organization of two observatories such as we have recommended 

 might be a temporary strain of some severity upon the existing re- 

 sources of astronomy. The only remedy for this which we can sug- 

 gest is the avoidance of undue haste. There can be no question that 

 the success of these enterprises would depend very largely upon the 

 ability and energy of the agents selected to carry them out. It may 

 safely be said that no enterprise in science is so important that it 

 cannot afford to await the appearance of scientific men of sufficient 

 foresight to appreciate its importance and of sufficient ability to 

 carry such an enterprise to fruition. On the other hand, we think 

 that it would be far more logical for the Institution to determine 

 from the consensus of astronomical opinion what is best to be done 

 in astronomy and then to take means to get that thing done, than 

 it would be to build and equip an observatory with instruments and 

 staff in the hope that such staff might find something profitable to 

 do. In the former case it is but a question of time in finding the 

 astronomer, previous to which no expenditure is lost; in the latter 

 the expenditure is incurred at the outset and remains to be justified. 

 The latter course is unavoidable in the case of governments and in- 

 stitutions which establish permanent observatories, and on the aver- 

 age it produces good results ; but the Carnegie Institution enjoys 

 the rare privilege of taking the former course, which we believe to 

 be the safest where it can be employed. 



