REPORT ON CHEMICAL LABORATORY 91 



strenuously to maintain that position. Is it not wise, there- 

 fore, in planning the education of her students, to give due 

 encouragement to the distinguished staff which is now labor- 

 ing under exceeding difficulties to maintain a well-earned 

 supremacy in this department? 



Is it not advisable that Harvard should recognize the new 

 movement of industrial chemistry? Should she not be a leader 

 in this line of research, and come thus in close touch with the 

 wants of the people by showing them how to make produc- 

 tion more effective? By following the policy already adopted 

 by some of the state universities and giving instruction in 

 agricultural chemistry, it is not too wild a dream to hope that 

 the abandoned farms of New England may be blossoming 

 like gardens in the next fifty years. 



Your Committee do not, therefore, hesitate to indorse the 

 plan already outlined by this department. It is estimated 

 that buildings of the character contemplated can be built for 

 $500,000; a further sum of $500,000 would be needed for the 

 proper endowment of such a plan. This is in itself doubtless 

 a large sum, but small in comparison with amounts expended 

 on many industrial projects. 



Although it may not be possible to carry out this scheme 

 at once on the scale contemplated, the establishment of a re- 

 search laboratory as a beginning would be of great benefit, 

 if the project could be carried out on a consistent plan, 

 which should be adopted at the outset. The estimates for 

 such a laboratory have been made, and in round numbers 

 would amount to about $50,000 for building and installa- 

 tion. A further sum of $50,000 would be needed for en- 

 dowment. 



The Committee would, therefore, urge strongly that an 

 attempt be made at once to obtain $100,000 for this pur- 

 pose, and thus make a beginning of the development of this 



