PROCEEDINGS OF THE OHIO ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 201 



The ground on which we now are is hallowed by the mem- 

 ory of Dr. Edward Orton, whose passing from us seems, to 

 me at least, so recent that I am unable to think of him as be- 

 longing to a generation that is gone. His great work as a 

 geologist ; his great work as director, for several years of the 

 State Geological Survey ; his great work as a teacher and ad- 

 ministrator of the afifairs of the Ohio State University, during 

 the most critical period of its existence ; all of this is so well 

 known tO you, as is also to most of you his inspiring personality, 

 that no words of mine can add to the clearness of the picture. 

 Nor need I speak of the many honors that came to him in 

 recognition of his scientific attainments. Although not a native 

 of the state, no son of Ohio has done more to enlarge her mate- 

 rial resources or to encourage and augment her intellectual 

 activities. 



Out of the science of the nineteenth century has come the 

 civilization and abounding material wealth of the twentieth. In 

 recognition of this indebtedness we have witnessed during the 

 last fifteen or twenty years the most lavish gifts of money by 

 private individuals and the most liberal appropriations by na- 

 tional and state governments for the promotion of scientific re- 

 search. It is literally true that grants of money are lying in 

 wait for those who give the slightest evidence of real ability to 

 do research work. Where fifty years ago an investigator was 

 compelled to work against a poverty of resource in both time 

 and instrumental equipment, today every demand he makes for 

 either may easily be met. Then a college professor who de- 

 termined to have a share in the increase as well as the diffusion 

 of knowledge was usually obliged to accomplish his desire by 

 taking time out of an already overfull day and money from a 

 purse which was far from being in the same condition. Now 

 his hold upon his place is more or less imperiled by a failure 

 to send at least an occasional paper to the journal representing 

 his particular branch of science, for the preparation of which 

 every facility is afiforded him. 



But in spite of all of these and many other encouraging 

 facts, I suggest that on the whole, conditions today are not as 



