ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. XLI 
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select the best man, and sometimes abler men were left out of the 
academy than those who had the right kind of influence to be 
appointed. Scientific men are like other people, and they elect 
their friends and those whom they think will help them. Within 
a few years after the close-of the civil war the limitation of the num- 
ber of members was removed by act of Congress. The National 
Academy has now the power to determine the number of its members, 
and for the present this has been practically fixed at one hundred. 
Whether this number should be increased, and whether its member- 
ship should be more evenly distributed throughout the country are 
questions over which the academy has entire control. Its destiny, 
therefore, is in its own hands, and it is to be hoped, and it is to be ex- 
pected, that its career will be useful and honorable. To act such a 
part as this the academy must maintain a high and independent char- 
acter. Itshould choose for its members the best and ablest scientific 
men of the country, and it must never become the tool of the shrewd 
men who deal out the rich patronage of the Government. That there 
is need for such an independent body to criticise and assist in the 
direction of the scientific work done by public authority seems be- 
yond question. It is assumed, of course, that the General Govern- 
ment is to carry on scientific works of various kinds, a position 
which may be disputed by some, but which appears to be already 
practically conceded. How far the Government should enter on 
such works, and how much should be left to private enterprise, is a 
question of public policy.. But there are certain works which belong 
almost of necessity to the General Government. Thus the survey of 
our coast and harbors, a general geological survey, and a-good map 
of the country seem to belong to the work of the Government. 
These may be justified on the ground of their utility to the pub- 
lic. But there are other scientific works, not so directly con. 
nected with commercial and moneyed interests, that an enlightened 
government may properly undertake. Why should not there be in 
this country a first-class national astronomical observatory, where 
observations may be continued from one age to another with the 
best instruments of the times? Again, do not the elevated plains of 
the West offer an excellent opportunity for the determination of an 
arc of the meridian which may be extended from British America 
to the City of Mexico, and why cannot our General Government 
undertake such a determination? Must everything that is not 
strictly utilitarian be prohibited in the public works of our Repub- 
