A NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY. 5 



Regents of the University. "The Survey is comprehen- 

 sive in its scope. The fields of investigation named in the 

 original act are geology, botany, zoology and meteorology." * 

 The results of the investigations already made include so many 

 bulletins, scientific papers and reports that an enumeration 

 would occupy too much time, but they stand as witness to the 

 liberality and breadth of view with which this Survey has 

 been conceived and so far carried out, and we may congratu- 

 late the people of our vigorous sister State on " the steadiness 

 of purpose that has held the Geological and Natural History 

 Survey of Minnesota to its work." 



It is, perhaps unnecessary to go further, although other 

 examples are not wanting of the fact that States characterized 

 by generous and enlightened views have provided, and are now 

 providing, means for surveys not limited by the bounds of a 

 single science, in which plant and animal life are recognized as 

 being quite as worthy of study as the mineral wealth of the State. 



Unfortunately, this is not true of our own State. Former 

 papers before this academy have not failed to emphasize the 

 patent fact that Michigan, so far from being a leader among 

 the States in organized biological work, conducted by the 

 State, is far behind others that started later; and the fact that 

 a special committee appointed for the purpose of securing 

 appropriations from the Legislature for printing the publica- 

 tions of the Michigan Academy of Science has thus far met 

 with no success may well lead to careful seeking after the 

 cause of this apparent indifference. Are we producing noth- 

 ing worthy of the attention of the State ? Or is our work 

 good enough in its way, but of no money value, and conse- 

 quently something that the public money ought not to be spent 

 for? Or is there some occult reason, not yet suggested, for a 

 condition of affairs that, to say the least, is not creditable to 

 the State of Michigan or to the scientific workers within its 

 borders ? 



*Hall C. W. The University of Minnesota, an Historical 

 Sketch. Minneapolis, 1896. 



