Development of Chemical Science in Indiana. 

 J. H. Ransom 



This paper was read before the Indiana Section of the American Chemical Society, 

 Oct. 8, 1916. By request it was submitted to the Indiana Academy of Science. 



Indiana is this year celebrating the one hundreth anniversary of her en- 

 trance into the sisterhood of States. Almost weekly in the various counties, 

 pageants are being held in which local and state history is being enacted 

 depicting the earlier life of the state and the gradually changing conditions 

 that have led up to the modern social, religious and educational environment. 



It seems not unfitting at this time, and in this presence, to call attention 

 to some of the more scientific phases of the development of this commonwealth 

 to the end that we may see more clearly the struggles through which, and, 

 may I add, by which, some measure of success has been attained; and know 

 better the meanderings of the stream upon which our barques are being urged 

 to the haven of still larger accomplishment. 



It is my purpose, therefore, in the few moments at my disposal, to bring 

 before you in review, not the development of the whole scientific thought 

 of the State, interesting as that might be if I were capable of doing it, but 

 some of those things which are more closely related to the science of chemis- 

 try. However, in the early history of Indiana science the different branches 

 were not as clearly differentiated as now, and chemistry and its practical 

 applications were closely associated and entwined with both physics and 

 geology, so the influence of the chemist is not always clear. 



The soil and climate of Indiana are peculiarly well adapted to agricultural 

 pursuits. Therefore it is not wonderful that, when the two great streams of 

 immigration, from the northeast and southeast, met upon the soil of the state 

 it should be found that a very large proportion were young men and women 

 of humble parentage with little or no eduation and without financial stand- 

 ing. They came here to force from the great forests and from the rich virgin 

 soil hidden under them that which would supply them with better homes than 

 they had known in the east, and with better educational outlook for their 

 children than they possessed. Consequently it is to be expected that the 

 early history of the state would be free from any hint of scientific thought, 

 or of the applications of science to the affairs of life. The New Harmony 

 settlement may seem to contradict this statement; for in the settlement were 

 men of scientific standing. Later these men and their successors exerted 

 great scientific influence. But in the earlier years their influence was along 

 socialistic and religious lines. Not until after the adoption of the constitu- 

 tion of 1850, and the provision therein for an adequate support of the public 

 school system, does there seem to have been any attempt by the state to apply 

 scientific knowledge in assisting the people. 



(3S9J 



