17 



the sum total of our knowledge. Therefore, as 

 Chairman of the Board of Trustees and of the Pub- 

 lication Committee, I am opposed to publishing an\'- 

 thing that does not show on it the marks of originality 

 either in investigation or application. It is entirely 

 possible to make a paper original, valuable, scientific 

 and popular, all at the same time. But it is not 

 possible to make a long, wordy compilation, that 

 when sifted contains not a single new fact, either 

 useful or valuable for our publications, because the 

 periodical literature of the day is full and overflowing 

 with matter of that sort, and it can be purchased far 

 more cheaply there than we can afford to publish it 

 in our Reports and Special Papers. Reports of the 

 occurrence of new or rare forms are always in order, 

 but even here some information in regard to habit, 

 abundance, or peculiarities, if any are to be observed, 

 will double their value. We want papers dealing with 

 natural, social, political, mechanical and every other 

 science, but we desire these to be as original as 

 possible, and without more compilation than is neces- 

 sary to explain, or indicate, the value of the original 

 portions. I cannot conceive of a good compiler not 

 being a good investigator for no other condition 

 is possible. A good compiler is much like a mill that 

 receives the grain as it comes from nature, and puts 

 it out as a nutritious article of food. A poor compiler 

 is like a sponge that draws in the water and forces it 

 out again, precisely as it came in, only a bit dirtier. 

 Our publications are not supported for the purpose of 

 helping any one to get their names in print, but to tell 

 to the world that we are doing something and to show 

 that this something is of value to the scientific man or 

 woman, wherever such may be. 



This is not a criticism and should not be taken in 

 that spirit, but it is a plea for originality in our studies 

 and investigations, and a severe boiling down when we 

 come to publish results. Over publication and under 

 investigation is as fatal to an institution as it is to an 

 individual. 



