36 Wiscojisin Academy of Sciences^ Arts^ and Letters. 



II. 



Plax of the Academy. 



In view of the general objeets to be accomplislied, tbe great 

 value of associated effort, and tlie relation of harmony that 

 exists between the several departments of knowledge, the 

 Academy was broadly planned, so as to embrace every im- 

 portant interest of the State and every department of investiga- 

 tion looking to the advancement of knowledge. 



Its objects more specificaly stated, are set forth in the terms 

 of the Charter, as follows : 



" Section 3. * * Among the specific objects of the Academy shall be 

 embraced the following: 



" 1. Researches and investigations in the various departments of the 

 material, metaphysical, ethical, ethnological and social sciences. 



" 2. A ]irogressive and thorough scientific survey of the State, with a 

 view to determine its mineral, agricultural and other resources. 



" 3. The advancement of the useful arts, through the applications of 

 science, and by the encouragement of original invention. 



" 4. The encouragement of the fine arts, by means of honors and prizes 

 awarded to artists for original works of superior merit. 



" 5. The formation of scientific, economical and and art museums. 



" 6. The encouragement of philological and historical researches, the col- 

 lection and preservation of historic records, and the formation of a general 

 ' library. 



" 7. The diffusion of knowledge by the publication of original contribu- 

 tions to science, literature and the arts." 



The Departments named in the Constitution are these : 



The Department of the Sciences. 

 The Department of the Arts. 

 The Department of Letters. 



But with a view to subsequent development, the Constitu- 

 tion provides that, " any branch of these Departments may be 

 constituted a Section ; and any Section or group of Sections 



