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ILLINOIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



ical diseases, sleeping sickness, etc. Today it stands as the 

 venerated head of the splendid body of British Science. 



Coming nearer home, our National Academy, of which 

 many of our Illinois men are members, was incorporated with 

 the provision that it should, "Whenever called upon by any 

 department of the United States government, investigaie, ex- 

 amine, experiment and report upon any subject of science or 

 art." In return it receives support from the Federal Govern- 

 ment. 



Indiana on our east, Michigan and Wisconsin on the north, 

 Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska on the west, all assist their acad- 

 emies financially. We trust that the time is now present when 

 the State of Illinois will do likewise for this association of men 

 who are working in every part of the scientific field for the 

 benefit of our citizens. 



In return for State aid what could the Academy offer ? Con- 

 sisting as it does of experts in all departments of science it 

 could most appropriately and safely be made a legislative ref- 

 erence bureau of the highest type for certain things, and in a 

 short time could more than justify its existence by expert ad- 

 vice. We believe that much faulty legislation is enacted. Far 

 too often we are locking the stable after the horse is stolen. 

 Faulty legislation may occur here, as it did in Pennsylvania in 

 1885, when the legislature authorized counties to pay bounties 

 for the scalps of hawks and owls. Within a short time $90,- 

 000 was paid out in bounties. It is estimated that for every 

 dollar saved $1,205 was paid out. The balance of nature was 

 destroyed and within two years after the passage of the bill 

 the farmers found their crops and orchards so completely 

 overrun by destructive mice, rats and insects that it was esti- 

 mated that $2,000,000 loss was suffered in valuable crops. 

 California had a similar experience. 



We may become accustomed, and hence able, to endure un- 

 wise legislation, but this should be avoided when among our 

 citizens, there are those wise enough to furnish proper counsel. 



Even more important than advice in matters of legislation is 

 the promotion and diffusion of scientific knowledge among the 

 people. Industrial research, agricultural research, medical re- 

 search, all contain possibilities undreamed of by people who 

 are not so situated as to be conversant with what these lines of 

 investigation have to offer. 



The work of chemists, physicists, geologists, biologists and 

 bacteriologists has revolutionized our mode of life, the com- 

 forts of our homes, the health and the happiness of our people. 



