294 DAVKNl'ORT ACADKMY OF NATUKAI. SCIKNCKS. 



"heresy" in linmo's great thoughts, and the scientist who saw only 

 "fraud" in Koch's great discovery, might easily have exchanged 

 places.''' 



This discussion gives prominence to another question of no ordinary 

 importance, and that is as to the value of local organizati(jns through- 

 out the country in facilitating arch;eological research. The Bureau of 

 Kthnology not only seems to regard them with disfavor, but makes no 

 secret of its hostility to these independent methods of research. It is 

 clearly contemplated that all these local organizations should be re- 

 solved into mere conduits to the Smithsonian Institution; that all explo- 

 rations of mounds and earth-works should be under the direction of its 

 Bureau of Ethnology; and that all relics obtained should be deposited 

 for safe-keejjing in the National Museum. t This certainly is a notable 

 scheme; difficult, however, of execution, and of doubtful wisdom. 



* Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," pp. ^4i, 34,5, 351. Concerning the gfreat liiscoveries at 

 Abbeville, this distinguished author remarks: "We cannot, therefore, wonder that the state- 

 ment l\v .Mr. Frere has been distrusted for more than half a century; that the weapon found by 

 Mr. Conyers has lain unnoticed for more than double that time; that the discoveries by M. 

 Boucher de Perthes have been ignored for fifteen years; that the numerous cases in which caves 

 have contained the remains of men together with those of extinct animals have been suppressed 

 or exjjlained away. These facts show how deeply rooted was the conviction that men belonged 

 altogether to a more recent order of tilings; and, vvhatever other accusation may be brought 

 against them, geologists can at least not be said to have hiistily accepted the theory of the co- 

 existence of the human race with the now extinct pachydermata of Western Europe." 



f That this statement is not overdrawn will be made evident by reading the description of the 

 Xationul Museum, by Ernest Ingersoll, in the Century for January. Commenting upon that 

 article, .SV/W/r/' remarks: "Mr. Ingersoll develops the grandeur of the scheme with a lavish 

 hand, and it would appear as if, were the plan to be carried out in detail, the District of Colum- 

 bia would not be large enough to hold the Museum." Nor does the enterprise of the gentlemen 

 of the Smithsonian Institution stop here I Major Powell, Director of its Bureau of Ethnology, 

 recently gave somj imi)ortant testimony l)efore a joint committee of both Houses of Congress, 

 wherein he recommended that "all the scientific institutions of the Government should be i)laced 

 under one management," and expressed the opinion that " if such of the scientific bureaus as 

 should properly have a civil organization were placed under the direction of the regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, perhaps the best possible administration of the scientific work of tlie 

 (jovernmcnt would thereby be secured." The consolidation, under the management of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, thus recommended by Major Powell, embraces the Fish Commission, 

 the Xational Museum, the (jeological Survey, the Bureau of Ethnology, and about everything 

 else, now scattered among the various departments, having an}' relation to science, literature, 

 and art. It reveals a gigantic schema, and it m ly be iiuestioned whether any single m magement 

 could be equal to its proper requirem.jnts. A valuable report was also submitted upon the 

 same subject by a committee of the Xational Academy of Sciences, consisting of (jeneral Meigs 

 and Professors J. P. Trowbridge, Pickering, Young, Walker, and Langley, wherein the follow- 

 ing more moderate views were expressed: " We conceive it to be a sound principle, that Con- 

 gress should not undertake any work which can be equally well done by the enterprise of 

 individual investigators. Our leading universities are constantly increasing the means of scien- 

 tific research by their professors and students, and while the Cjovernment may with proi)ricty 

 encourage and co-operate with them, there is no reason why it should compete with them. The 

 scientific work of the (jovernment ought not, therefore, to be such as can be undertiiken by in- 

 dividuals." (6V;V«ce, January 2d and 16th, iSS:;.) 



