September 24, 1920] 



SCIENCE 



283 



lem of the effect of wastes upon the waters 

 makes it a peculiarly appropriate field of 

 study for the state and for the authority who 

 should be the responsible judge of the require- 

 ments and standards which should apply. 



POLICY OF THE COMMISSION 



The Conservation Commission desires to 

 take the broadest possible constructive attitude 

 in approaching the problem of maintaining 

 and developing the quality value of the water. 

 Its relations do not bind it to any partic- 

 ular interest or phase of the subject to the 

 exclusion of the others. It can avail itself of 

 the results of the many activities working 

 separately towards conservation of some par- 

 ticular quality value and, by coordinating 

 such activities, temper their demands and 

 supplementing them with a knowledge of 

 changes in the water itself, develop its uses 

 for the greatest benefit of all. The decision 

 on all questions depends upon the particular 

 condition and use of the water and the Com- 

 mission should be able to avail itself of the 

 best expert knowledge and testimony for sound 

 judgment. In certain phases it will be nec- 

 essary to establish new standards between 

 those of drinking water requirements and 

 those of common decency. That its rulings 

 and regulations may be fair and trustworthy 

 considerable information must be gathered 

 and investigations prosecuted into the nec- 

 essity of the measures taken. That the bur- 

 den on industry or the state may be lessened, 

 discoveries must be gleaned into the unknown 

 possibilities of scientific development. Where 

 prohibitive expense will be required to over- 

 come a natural obstacle which can better be 

 accomplished artificially by fish hatcheries or 

 otherwise, there must the knowledge be avail- 

 able for the conservation of such a resource. 

 In general, therefore, should the state interest 

 itself in and take the action required for the 

 development of scientific aquiculiure that it 

 may utilize the great water quality resources 

 of the state. 



COOPERATION WITH INDUSTRY 



It should be evident that the most success- 

 ful fulfillment of such a program can only 



be accomplished by active cooperation with 

 the industries. The Commission welcomes, 

 therefore, all opportunities to establish such 

 cordial relations. It aims to become a clear- 

 ing house for all available information bear- 

 ing on the common problem. By associating 

 itself with other agencies, in this and other 

 states and the federal government working 

 on the quality of water it can acquire the 

 knowledge obtained by all. It will coUect, 

 classify and file for the use of all such meth- 

 ods and data as it may accumulate or dis- 

 cover. Its own investigations will aim to 

 discover the limiting factors which operate to 

 restrict the use of the waters, that corrective 

 measures may be direct and economical. It 

 will publish from time to time such informa- 

 tion as may seem of use to the industries as 

 well as to the public. It invites conferences, 

 suggestions and data. In particular is it 

 anxious to assist to the limit of its power the 

 investigations of the industries themselves. 

 At the present time funds are hardly adequate 

 to carry out necessary investigations on the 

 water, but the technical forces will be glad to 

 consult and give any suggestions possible in 

 carrying out such studies. 



ASSISTANCE FROM INDUSTRIES 



The industries, on the other hand, are in a 

 position to render much honest assistance to 

 the commission in the prosecution of its work. 

 Because of limited funds it will not be pos- 

 sible to carry on its studies on the extensive 

 scale which the magnitude of the problem 

 warrants. The facilities of the various in- 

 dustries would help greatly to attack these 

 problems in earnest, and the working data in 

 their hands will greatly augment the value of 

 the studies. 



IMPORTANCE OF TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE 



The industries should be quick to appreciate 

 the necessity of sound technical information. 

 The eifieiency upon which their dividends de- 

 pend is of equal value in exploiting the re- 

 sources of the water. Waste of its possibilities 

 represents the greatest loss of all. Economy of 

 its value depends upon elimination of what 

 may be discovered to be unnecessary steps or in 



