SURFACE FEATURES OF THE MOON — WRIGHT 171 



results, especially if the experience from several branches of science 

 could be brought to bear upon it. Accordingly, he chose for mem- 

 bership on the committee four astrophysicists, one mathematical 

 jDhj'^sicist, one geophysicist, and two geologists.^ The committee was 

 given no specific instruction other than that implied in its title ; it was 

 afforded opportunity to contribute toward the solution of a most 

 attractive problem, in part astrophysical, in part geological. 



This policy of assigning to an interdepartmental committee a 

 problem of large scope is in keeping with the general policy of 

 the Carnegie Institution of supporting organized efforts in fields 

 of science too large for one man to encompass. In the early days 

 of science it was possible for one person to master all existing knowl- 

 edge in his own field ; advances were then made chiefly through the 

 efforts of individual scientists working alone. These men laid the 

 foundations on which modem science is being built. Each depart- 

 ment of the Carnegie Institution is essentially a group of cooperat- 

 ing scientists, each member carrying on research activities of his 

 own, but also doing his share of cooperative work. This group 

 method of facing each problem from all standpoints and determin- 

 ing the best means for solving it is followed not only within each 

 group, but also between the several groups within the institution 

 and between the institution and outside agencies. The dividends 

 accruing from cooperative work of this kind, in terms of scientific 

 results obtained for a given sum of money, are unusually large, 

 chiefly because of facilities and the background of experience within 

 the several groups. Were it not for this factor, the special inter- 

 departmental and other cooperative activities would be less success- 

 ful. On the other hand, the drawback to committee work of this 

 nature is that no member can devote much time to it; results are, 

 therefore, gathered slowly and the effort is spread over many years. 



PRELIMINARY SURVEY 



As a preliminary to experimental work on the problems presented 

 by study of the surface features of the moon the committee under- 

 took to survey the field and to analyze the present status of the prob- 

 lem. It sought to visualize the conditions existing at the moon's 

 surface. The observer cannot journey to the moon and gather sam- 

 ples, make maps, and plot the field relations on the spot. In geologi- 

 cal field work geologists have become accustomed to judge of the 

 relative effectiveness of different terrestrial agencies and are inclined 

 to interpret what they see in terms of terrestrial factors or processes 



^ Members of the committee are : W. S. Adams, F. G. Pease, and B. Pettit, of Mount 

 Wilson Observatory; A. L. Day and F. E. Wright (chairman), ©f the Geophysical Labora- 

 tory ; and research associates, IL N. Russell, of Princeton University, J. P. Buwalda and 

 P. Epstein, of the California Institute of Technology. 



