368 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1892. 



is, to apply a statement made in another connection, no specimen of 

 fossil remains should be admitted to permanent installation in any pub- 

 lic museum which is not accompanied by such a record of the locality 

 and stratum from which it was obtained as will enable any investiga- 

 tor to revisit the same. In every case of installment such records 

 should be so connected with every specimen as to be readily accessi- 

 ble, and so arranged that the danger of loss or disconnection shall be 

 reduced to a minimum. 



The foregoing discussion of the claims of science upon museums is 

 intended to embrace reference only to those which are devoted to the 

 preservation of material pertaining to biological geology, but they are 

 of more or less general applicability. These partial claims alone dem- 

 onstrate the important relation that museums hold to science and to 

 civilization as centers of learning and conservatories of the evidence 

 concerning acquired knowledge. Museums should not only be made 

 safe treasure-houses of science, but they should be what their name 

 implies — temples of study — perpetually open to all investigators. 



The claims of science upon geological organizations can not be dis- 

 cussed at length in this essay,, but because the ratio of power for the 

 advancement or retardation of science possessed by such organizations 

 is so much greater than that of individuals working independently, it 

 is desirable to make this brief reference to them. That power increases 

 also with the ratio of the extent of the organization, and it is largely 

 centered in the director. His responsibility, especially if his organi- 

 zation is a large one, is peculiar, and, to himself, of an unfortunate 

 character. That is, while all or nearly all the advancement of science 

 that may be accomplished by the organization is the work of his subor- 

 dinates, retardation, if it should occur, is mainly due to his failure to 

 require that each branch of investigation should be prosecuted in ac- 

 cord with all others, and the case would be little less than disastrous 

 should he himself favor ex parte methods or fail to require a symmetrical 

 development of the work in his charge. The claims of science upon 

 geological organizations are therefore really claims upon their directors, 

 and they are more responsible than any other class of persons for the 

 preservation of the integrity of geological science. 



