166 The Forest Products Laboratory 



being parasitic, but many of them must be brought to realize their de- 

 pendence on science, its bearing on commerce and the desirability of 

 doing the right thing to promote work upon fundamentals. 



Another place where the industries can help is in the publication 

 of bibliographies which are not properly cared for at present. There 

 are many people who cheerfully support other forms of publication 

 but find lists and bibliographies unattractive, even though they are 

 essential for scientific work. There is always great difficulty in getting 

 sufficient financial backing for such work, and yet there should be no 

 delay in trying to find out from time to time what has been done and 

 what is going on. The public as the ultimate benefactor of all this 

 work clearly has its duty to perform in this connection. 



That it is the public to which we must look is shown by the expe- 

 rience at the Brunner-Mond plant. The president and vice-president 

 recently recommended that 100,000 pounds (sterling) be devoted to 

 research in the universities, but the stockholders who had already re- 

 ceived large dividends turned down this suggestion even though their 

 business depends upon science for its existence and advancement. 



I think that sort of thing comes from the lack of a proper under- 

 standing of science. For example, an advertisement appeared in a 

 recent paper offering to pay a satisfactory cook $2,500, and in the same 

 service there was also an opportunity for an experienced chemist at 

 $1,800, and a laboratory assistant in pathology was offered $950. I 

 presume we must have good cooks, but it does seem that a trained sci- 

 entist should ])e worth as much. The support of the government lab- 

 oratories by the public at large is, of course, for the benefit of us all. 

 Most of the speeches made in Congress appear to be designed for con- 

 sumption by the people back home. If these people back home could 

 only be convinced that we must have and spend money in supporting 

 scientific work in their interests, as Mr. Everest has outlined, I am sure 

 it would be rapidly forthcoming and research could proceed on an ade- 

 quate scale. 



There are many sciences available for research that have not been 

 called upon by industry. There is, for instance, the great group of 

 biological sciences with which industry should become acquainted, and 

 we can render service by introducing the two parties to their mutual 

 advantage. We have the. ability in this country to do the proper type 

 of industrial research which will keep us in the lead. What can we 



