JOSEPH HENRY 139 



place where it was situated to make them see the necessity of 

 abating the pestilential nuisance of this obsolete canal." The 

 work of filling up was immediately commenced by the Board to 

 which the argument was addressed. 



The administration of the Smithsonian Institution was so heavy 

 a task from a business point of view that it was impossible for 

 Professor Henry to continue his personal scientific researches. 

 His function was now not so much to carry on investigations of 

 his own as to encourage and support investigations by others. 

 One of the most important measures toward this end was the 

 publication of original scientific works, which would both promote 

 knowledge and diffuse it among men. From this point of view, 

 the correctness of which no one will contest, this was the most 

 effective step by which Smithson's purpose could be carried out. 

 A medium of publication was all the more necessary because at 

 that time our scientific societies were so poor that investigators 

 found great difficulty in securing the publication of their works. 

 Naturally such works, especially if printed in proper style, are 

 quite expensive. They frequently require illustrations and these 

 formerly cost a great deal more than they do now. Seeing this 

 urgent want Professor Henry commenced the issue of the Smith- 

 sonian Contributions to Knowledge, a series of memoirs going on 

 from year to year, now forming an important part of every great 

 scientific library. In order to make it certain that only important 

 publications should be published, every paper before being ac- 

 cepted was referred to a committee, to report upon its originality 

 and scientific value. 



In bringing out the spirit of Henry's work, which placed pure 

 knowledge ahead of practical applications, it must not be supposed 

 that he was indifferent to the latter. If he seemed to pay little 

 attention to utility it was because he well knew that there would 

 be a score of men all ready to put discoveries to a useful end for 

 every one person who was qualified to make them. But when this 

 was not the case he was ever ready to promote the practical appli- 

 cation of science. One of his enterprises in this direction sowed 

 the seed from which our present weather service grew. One of 



