188 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



There are other details of more or less importance but 

 they must be omitted. In its present condition the engine 

 leaves room for improvement and improvements are con- 

 tinually being made. If it were to be reconstructed now, 

 it would probably be slightly different from its present 

 form. Many suggestions have been made; some are good, 

 others worthless. In the face of these it is well to remem- 

 ber the words of Mueller: 



" VVer jeden Rath berathen will der kommt za keiuer that." 



Just what the final results of the investigations with the 

 plates will be only a prophet can tell. This will form the 

 subject-matter for other papers. It has not been the 

 object to consider the plates themselves, but the engine 

 with which we make them. We have been enabled to 

 construct plates of 930 circles, more than four times the 

 number drawn by Prof. Wood, but we can admire the 

 patience with which he applied a beam compass to 230. 

 The investigations with the plates will probably take two 

 years of time at least and then the results may be nega- 

 tive. But what is the spirit of the scientist if not to 

 throw aside jears of labor and the most favored opinions, 

 that the truth may be seen more clearly. 



The engine was first planned after January 1, 1901. In 

 its present imperfect condition it stands as the interrupted 

 work of the past year. Had it not been for Professor A. 

 A. Veblen, president of this learned body, the work would 

 have come to an abrupt close before this. For his encour- 

 agement and many valuable suggestions I desire to express 

 my gratitude. 



