12 



years ago is now attracting general attention. Pasteur's ex- 

 periments to disprove the theory of spontaneous generation 

 were not looked upon as of any practical value at the time they 

 were undertaken, yet they are the basis of the modern practice 

 of sterilization, and the noun "Pasteurization" perpetuates the 

 author's name. Geology, the study of rocks, may seem dry 

 and useless, yet this study is necessary for the discovery and 

 recovery of such useful substances as iron, gold, coal, and 

 petroleum. 



Many people confuse the investigation and demonstration of 

 mining, industrial, agricultural, and commercial possibilities with 

 the subsequent development of these. The Bureau of Science has 

 no function in operating such enterprises as the latter; its reg 

 ular function ceases when the respective possibilities have been 

 demonstrated, and it then becomes the responsibility of indi- 

 viduals and corporations to show sufficient enterprising spirit 

 to carry on the commercial aspects. However, the Bureau of 

 Science always has been and is most willing to cooperate with 

 these in the establishment and development of new industries. 

 The Bureau of Science is continually studying the possible re- 

 sources, the health, and other problems of the Islands, to be 

 prepared in so far as possible for questions as they come up and 

 to have information on hand when it is needed. It has prepared, 

 published, and circulated throughout the Philipine Islands re- 

 ports and statistical information concerning its work that has 

 aided and will continue to aid industrial and commercial develop- 

 ment ; but it has no authority to enforce the use of improved 

 industrial methods, the elimination and the utilization of waste 

 products, and other similar betterments. The Bureau of Science 

 is doing all that it can toward the introduction of new and 

 better industries of immediate and vital interest to the in- 

 habitants of these Islands; but this cannot be effected if the 

 people prefer to continue in the use of the old methods, as has 

 happened. El Ideal of July 14, 1917, says : "To remedy this state 

 of affairs it is necessary to organize a persistent campaign of 

 education as the only practical method by which to cause to be 

 forgotten all those antiquated and worthless methods which are 

 difficult to disregard because of their long-established use. 

 Therefore the first .thing needed is to supply the Bureau of 

 Science with sufficient funds with which to organize a corps of 

 public demonstrators." 



In order to show the amount of routine work performed, at- 

 tention may be called to a few statistics with regard to the 

 Bureau of Science. 



