18 THE BUREAU OF SCIENCE 



ocre men can do certain classes of routine scientific work, but it 

 requires capable men to apply their training to their problems. 

 A well-trained man is able to work out the problems which are 

 to be solved by experimentation. Able men must be retained. 

 Mediocre men cannot do any real constructive work. A man 

 must be well trained and feel himself a part of the institution 

 in which he is employed to do his best work. Low-salaried posi- 

 tions are used only as stepping stones to something else. Scien- 

 tific men who are satisfied with low-salaried positions are usually 

 of mediocre ability, and a changing personnel is most expensive. 

 Economic rocks, plants, insects, etc., must be accurately known 

 before economic data can be made available. The geologist, 

 botanist, entomologist, or other specialist having long experience 

 in a country can in a very high percentage of cases answer a 

 query offhand that a no\dce would not be able to answer at all, 

 or only after many hours or even days of critical study. Only 

 when an institution has a certain permanency of personnel can 

 the work progress. The necessity for a permanency of person- 

 nel in the Philippine Islands is felt more than elsewhere because 

 conditions are unique, and technologists frequently must serve 

 an apprenticeship before they become of great value. A new 

 man spends much of his time and energy during the first year 

 or two in becoming adjusted to new conditions. The work of 

 the Bureau of Science is so important that we should continue 

 to attract and retain men of the highest ability. Our work is 

 so complicated that we must retain a permanent nucleus, and 

 to do this men must be contented and satisfied with their future 

 outlook. 



Scientific work requires long years of training. In addition 

 to an ordinary education a scientist devotes from five to eight 

 years to further study. During this period he draws no salary, 

 and his expenses are large. On the other hand, during the 

 same period a clerk, an internal revenue agent, or a customs 

 inspector not only does not have to meet educational expenses, 

 but draws a salary. In view of these facts, the salaries now 

 paid to scientific employees are very low in comparison with 

 those allowed clerks, mechanics, etc. Any reduction in salaries 

 or a disinclination to make promotions will mean that competent 

 men will soon find more lucrative positions elsewhere. 



Unfortunately there are a great many lines of scientific work 

 to which the Filipino youth is not attracted. There are other 

 lines for which there are no training facilities provided in the 

 Philippine Islands. The Filipino youths are attracted to the 



