8 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF AVASHINGTON 



individual machines, like the internal-combustion engine, embody 

 in their construction and operation striking and easily acquired 

 lessons in certain fundamentals of physical science. But what 

 is more important in this connection is the general recognition 

 of research as an essential preliminary to progress. Accordingly, 

 numerous national organizations are now forming research com- 

 mittees for the investigation of problems common to their several 

 interests, while not a few individual establishments are conduct- 

 ing special research laboratories whose contributions to knowl- 

 edge must be justly measured by a much higher standard than 

 that of commercial profit alone. In this process of evolution 

 the conventional divisions of pure and applied science are coming 

 into closer contact and the invidious distinctions between them, 

 often set up disadvantageously to both, seem to be slowly 

 disappearing. 



Fundamentally related to the application of the scientific 

 method in increasing measure in nearlj^ all fields of inquiry is the 

 Costs of question already alluded to of the costs involved, 

 Research. although it has been little considered and is often 

 contemptuously disregarded both by enthusiastic investigators 

 and by optimistic financiers. It is, in fact, in its entirety, often a 

 question of great complexity, involving as a rule manj^ difficul- 

 ties with ^'personal equations" and all of the entanglements 

 due to the uncertainties which successful research seeks to 

 remove. It is too large a question for adequate discussion here, 

 but a statement of certain of its more obvious aspects may help 

 to remove common misapprehension with respect to the Institu- 

 tion and thus aid other similar organizations to develop in a 

 rational manner. Briefly, these aspects may be stated as follows; 

 they are so self-evident that formal expression of them would be 

 superfluous if they were not contradicted in daity experience: 



1. Sound research, like any trustworthy work, is expensive 

 in proportion to its comprehensiveness and thoroughness. 



2. The number of projects worthy of investigation is now far 

 greater than can be adequately financed, and hence advanta- 

 geously pursued, either bj^ an}^ single agenc^y or by all such com- 

 bined; and the prevalent lack of financial support for this kind 

 of work appears destined to continue indefinitely, certainly so 



