22 CARNEIGIE; institution of WASHINGTON. 



These tables show two facts worthy of brief consideration, namely : great 

 inequalities in the amounts devoted to different fields of investigation ; and 

 a large preponderance in favor of the physical sciences, including biology 

 amongst the latter. These facts are a subject of much comment and much 

 correspondence, for the conclusion is often hastily reached that they are the 

 result of chance, prepossession, or prejudice. Without attempting here to 

 discuss the varied aspects of this interesting topic, it may be observed that as 

 regards physical science the development of the Institution is closely similar 

 to the development of educational institutions in recent decades. That con- 

 temporary society approves this development seems to admit of no doubt, for 

 no combination of fortuitous causes or sinister influences can account for the 

 vast sums now invested by colleges and universities in the cultivation of 

 physical science. It may be observed also that the relative amounts allotted 

 by the Institution to the different fields of investigation reflect in no small 

 degree the consensus of expert opinion as to the relative importance of those 

 fields, or as to their relative availability for research. Moreover, the trend 

 of development of the Institution at any epoch must be expected to conform, 

 to a greater or less extent, to the prevailing intelligent sentiments of that 

 epoch. At any rate, whether favorable to or inimical to progress, such senti- 

 ments must be reckoned with. In view of these considerations, which are 

 often ignored in popular discussions concerning the work of the Institution, 

 it appears to be the part of wisdom to pursue chiefly those researches which 

 meet with approval, rather than opposition, from contemporary society. This 

 appears to be, in fact, in line with the natural order of evolution ; for without 

 the demonstrated validity and value of the older sciences we could hardly 

 hope for rapid progress in the newer ones. 



RESUME OF WORK OF YEAR. 



It is plain from the foregoing financial statement that the Institution has 



grown rapidly to the point of requiring its entire income, nearly, to support 



adequately the enterprises now under way. This growth is 



°hi t't t equally attested by the rapid expansion of the research work 



of our departments and by the enlarging needs of the re- 

 search work carried on by individual investigators. Altho progress in this 

 respect has been, and still is to some extent, in a preparatory way, nearly all 

 branches of the work of the Institution are not only proving highly fruitful 

 already, but they give promise of rapidly increasing productivity in the near 

 future. In fact, this prospective productivity is a subject of some concern, 

 since our departments alone are likely to need all of the available fraction of 

 our income for the proper publication of their researches. 



Along with the growth of the research work its range and ramifications 

 have become increasingly extensive, and hence increasingly difficult of com- 



