62 



NATURE 



[May 21, 1903 



as known, only two or three have made the reductions 

 needed to render their observations of any value. When a 

 plan was decided on, it would be discussed by the entire 

 board, and it is obvious that their combined experience 

 would render serious mistakes less probable than when all 

 •depends on the judgment of a single individual, as is now 

 the case. They could find the best man for a given re- 

 search, and give him the best possible facilities for carrying 

 it on. They could undertake larger and more difficult re- 

 searches than a single observatory could attempt. It would 

 be the power of many, instead of one, and of large, instead 

 of restricted, resources. The opportunity offered to such a 

 ■board of advisers, having control of the principal instru- 

 ments of the country and a large sum of money available 

 to set at work any particular corps of astronomers, ought 

 -to secure results far beyond those attainable at any existing 

 •observatory. All the advantages of a trust would be 

 secured, with none of its objections. No one could object 

 to a trust in wheat, for example, if its only object was to 

 increase the quality and quantity of the crop, and to furnish 

 it to consumers at the lowest rates, also to aid those not 

 members of the trust in every possible way. In the present 

 case, these conditions would be enforced by a body of men 

 entirely unprejudiced, the Corporation of Harvard College. 

 It is universally admitted that in the industrial arts there 

 is a great advantage in cooperation, and in carrying on 

 work on a very large scale. The same remarks appiv to 

 scientific investigation, with the added advantage that' the 

 supply and demand are indefinitely great, so that the market 

 can never be glutted. 



Apart from the advantages to astronomy of such a plan 

 as is here outlined, it is believed that it would serve as a 

 valuable e.xample to the other sciences, and the moral effect 

 of promoting uniformity of purpose, and friendly aid to 

 one another by astronomers of all countries, would en- 

 courage other donors. An incidental advantage of this 

 plan is that it could be tried on a small scale, as for a 

 single year, and the donor could thus see what results were 

 likely to follow if he made the plan permanent. 



Of course, every effort would be made to establish the 

 closest relations with astronomers in general, as the object 

 of the institution could not be attained if the work done was 

 not regarded as advancing astronomical research in the 

 best way. Much might be accomplished through existing 

 societies and periodicals. Another matter of especial im- 

 portance is that when an astronomer is aided who is quali- 

 fied to carry on a work in the best way, no restrictions 

 should be made on the appropriation which would in any 

 way interfere with his obtaining the best results. 



It will be noticed that this plan differs from those govern- 

 ing existing funds for research in being active and not 

 passive. While the trustees of other funds wait for applica- 

 tions, and then consider what appropriations can be made, 

 it would be the aim of the advisers of this fund to learn 

 what astronomers desired aid, what instruments now unused 

 were available for work, and what valuable material re- 

 mained unpublished and consequently useless for lack of 

 means. Its special object would be to determine the needs 

 of astronomers, to find what subjects were being neglected, 

 especially those the usefulness of which would be lost by de- 

 lay, and, if possible, to take the necessary steps to secure 

 their execution. Much might be done with existing funds, and 

 It IS believed that the trustees of such funds would, in manv 

 cases, welcome the means of expending the available in- 

 come to the best advantage. The opportunities for good 

 work are far in excess of the present means for supplying 

 them. Even the great resources of the Carnegie Institution 

 will be able to respond to only a portion of the excellent 

 applications made to it for aid. 



It is most important that unnecessary delays should be 

 avoided. It often happens that an astronomer could under- 

 take a piece of work at once, perhaps during a summer 

 vacation, while after a delav of several months he might 

 be unable to carry it out, or might have lost many of the 

 details then fresh in his mind. This is still more im- 

 portant with large pieces of work. A delay of several years 

 may render a mature astronomer incapable of completing a 

 work, which if undertaken at once, he could carry out with 

 his greatest vigour and skill. 



These remarks apply with equal force to the present plan 



NO. 175 1, VOL. 68] 



of work. The Harvard Observatory has now the appli- 

 ances, both intellectual and physical, for undertaking large 

 pieces of work. Several of the leading astronomers of the 

 country are in sympathy with such a plan for cooperation, 

 so that the important methods of organising and initiating 

 a system could be devised at the present time under very 

 favourable conditions which may not prevail a few years 

 hence, although the plan once started could easily be carried 

 on by others. It therefore seems wise to make a beginning, 

 however small, hoping to show results that will lead to an 

 early fulfilment of the entire plan. 



The undersigned, therefore, invites the astronomers of 

 this and other countries to send to him applications for aid. 

 A brief statement of the case in form for publication should 

 be made, generally not exceeding two hundred words in 

 length, with an estimate of the cost, and any additional 

 necessary details. If publication is not desired, it should 

 be stated. 



The undersigned will then use his best efforts to secure 

 the execution of such of these plans as commend themselves 

 to him, reserving the right to omit all others. If the list 

 of applications received seems worthy of it, he will publish 

 and distribute it to possible donors, and will endeavour to 

 secure its publication elsewhere. He will also bring such 

 applications as commend themselves to him to the attention 

 of the officers in charge of the following research funds, 

 with which he is officially connected : — 



Rumford Fund of the American Acaderny. Principal, 

 52,000 dollars. Income available to aid American investi- 

 gators in light and heat. 



Elizabeth Thompson Science Fund. Principal, 26,000 

 dollars. Income available for investigators of all countries 

 in all departments of science. Appropriations seldom ex- 

 ceed 300 dollars. 



Henry Draper Fund of the National Academy. Principal, 

 6000 dollars. Accumulated income April 15, 1902, i5is^99 

 dollars. Available for investigations in astronomical 

 physics, by citizens of the United States. 



Advancement of Astronomical Science Fund of the Har- 

 vard College Observatory. Principal, 70,000 dollars, of 

 which 10,000 dollars is now available as stated above. In- 

 come may be used for astronomers of any country. 



When we consider the great sums at the disposal of the 

 trustees of the Carnegie Institution, and the large un- 

 expended balances of the various research funds of the 

 National Academy, it is not probable that any really worthy 

 investigation requiring only a few hundred dollars for its 

 execution need fail for want of such a sum. 



There is another direction in which the writer believes 

 that a great astronomical return could be obtained for a 

 reasonable expenditure of money, some of which is already 

 available. There are, in the United States, many tele- 

 scopes of large size, which are now in use during only a 

 small portion of every clear night. It is believed that in 

 many cases advanced students in astronomy would be glad 

 to undertake systematic observations with such instruments 

 for a salary equivalent to a fellowship. They would thus 

 be enabled to continue their studies, and at the same time 

 make valuable additions to our knowledge of astronomy. 



Larger investigations may be carried on by the Carnegie 

 Institution or by private gift. For such investigations the 

 undersigned offers assistance to prospective donors, t'/ ihey 

 desire it. He will in that case secure for them the opinions 

 of the leading astronomers of the country regarding any 

 proposed investigation. A wealthy man, when making a 

 large investment in an industrial enterprise with which he 

 was not familiar, would always obtain the opinion of an 

 expert, for which he would often pay a large sum. How 

 much more important is it in a subject like astronomy, with 

 which he is likely to be still less familiar, that he should 

 learn the views, which would be given freely and without 

 charge, of the principal experts in the country who have 

 devoted their entire lives to the consideration of these 

 subjects. 



In brief, it is proposed to establish an institution in connec- 

 tion with the Harvard Observatory the aim of which should 

 be to advance astronomy as much as possible by making 

 appropriations under the combined advice of the leading 

 astronomers of the country. Much attention would be paid 

 to neglected subjects, especially to those which cannot be 



