444 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 742 



The committee of organization was 

 prompt in the preparation of the program 

 continent. This isolation has been one of the 

 greatest obstacles to progress. The failure to 

 develop a spirit of intellectual cooperation has 

 resulted in a great loss of energy and has been 

 one of the most important obstacles to the solu- 

 tion of many problems which would long ago have 

 been solved had we been able to unite our energies 

 and profit by each other's experience. The true 

 scientific spirit has a far deeper significance than 

 the mere desire to conduct investigations. It can 

 not reach its highest expression if there exist 

 petty rivalries or jealousies. For this reason the 

 development of the scientific spirit contributes so 

 much to the growth of a true international fra- 

 ternal spirit. A vigorous spirit of cooperation, 

 developed amongst the scientists of the American 

 continent, will enable us to destroy the last traces 

 of the epoch in which the words " stranger " and 

 " enemy " were synonymous. 



The industrial development of the last century 

 offers lessons of much importance to the scientific 

 world. A study of the economic growth of modern 

 countries clearly shows that the principle of com- 

 petition is gradually giving way to the principle 

 of cooperation. 



The formation of trusts as well as the growth 

 of trades' unions constitutes the concrete expres- 

 sion of these new tendencies. The eighteenth 

 century and a considerable portion of the nine- 

 teenth were dominated by a spirit of individual- 

 ism. During more than four generations, it was 

 taken for granted that human progress is de- 

 pendent on the struggle for existence and the 

 conflict between individual and individual. Dur- 

 ing the nineteenth century the application of 

 biological principles to human society strength- 

 ened this idea. It is the mission of the twentieth 

 century to demonstrate that we must regard the 

 principle of cooperation rather than that of com- 

 petition as the fundamental principle of social 

 progress. 



In this congress it is our high privilege to in- 

 augurate a new epoch giving concrete fonn to the 

 idea of intellectual cooperation. In the Interna- 

 tional Bureau of American Republics we have a 

 central organization admirably adapted to con- 

 tribute toward the realization of this idea. We 

 need such a center in order to place investigators 

 in different portions of the American continent in 

 contact with one another, and in order that the 

 results of such investigations may be made the 

 common property of all the nations of America. 



of meetings, and the press of the city was 

 most generous and helpful in its treat- 

 ment of the congress. The sectional meet- 

 ings, which continued during eight days, 

 were held separately under the following 

 heads : 



1. Mathematics, Pure and Applied. 



2. Physical and Chemical Sciences. 



3. Natural Sciences — Biology, Paleontology, 



Geology, Anthropology, etc. 



4. Engineering. 



5. Medicine and Hygiene. 



6. Jurisprudence. 



7. Social Sciences. 



8. Pedagogic Sciences. 



9. Agriculture and Zootechny. 



The program was followed, with neces- 

 sary modifications from day to day. The 

 majority of the papers were read in full or 

 in extended abstracts, and discussion was 

 free and often spirited. Naturally, popu- 

 lar interest centered largely about the sec- 

 tions dealing with practical problems, as 

 education, sanitation, social science and 

 engineering ; but the more abstract sciences 

 were not neglected. Owing to the great 

 range of the work of the congress and the 

 multiplicity of papei-s presented in the 

 various sections, no attempt can be made 

 in this place to present the work and re- 

 sults in detail. The list of papers pre- 

 sented by members of the American dele- 

 gation and forwarded by the other 



In the name of the delegation of the United 

 States of America, I desire to express our sincere 

 thanks for this opportunity to take part in the 

 deliberations of this congress. No better oppor- 

 tunity could have been offered to become ac- 

 quainted with our colleagues and fellow investi- 

 gators. The ties here formed possess a signifi- 

 cance far deeper than the personal satisfaction 

 they imply. This visit can not help but enlarge 

 our mental horizon, broaden our scientific activity, 

 and strengthen the influence of our university 

 instruction. We congratulate ourselves on the 

 privilege of being present, and desire also to 

 express our appreciation of the great service per- 

 formed by this republic in giving such vigorous 

 impulse to the spirit of scientific solidarity. 



