404 
king analyses for him. How ean an an- 
alytical chemist hope to maintain his pro- 
fessional standing when his charges for in- 
dividual analyses—even when done in 
quantity—are such that, unless he is to 
count his own time as without value (and 
sometimes even under such an assump- 
tion), he can not possibly do reliable work 
without an actual financial loss? I do not 
wish to draw any unpleasant or unfair in- 
ferences as to which horn of such a di- 
lemma the commercial analytical chemists 
choose; for the most of them are, no 
doubt, trying to make the best of a diffi- 
cult situation. Unfortunately, I have no 
specifie remedy to propose, but it is all too 
evident that these conditions tend to be- 
little this branch of our science, to result 
in a large output of inferior work, and to 
ereate a distrust which spreads unduly. 
It behooves us all to at least do what we 
can to bring home to those who are to 
place dependence upon work done at these 
ruinous prices that, in many instances, 
they are getting just about what they pay 
for and no more, and that the service is 
not such as they owe it to themselves to 
make possible by more adequate remunera- 
tion. 
Whether we consider present analytical 
practise from the view of the scientist or 
as a vocation, we find much that calls for 
improvement. What the present situation 
imperatively demands, then, is a courageous 
and frank admission that the quality of 
much of the analytical work, practised or 
published, is inferior to what might rea- 
sonably be attained because much of it is 
one-sided and ill-considered from a scien- 
tifie standpoint. Let there be a realiza- 
tion that, while no amount of theorizing 
ean take the place of skilful and accurate 
work, or of a certain amount of empirical 
experimentation, the analysts should cease 
pulling on their own boot-straps and avail 
SCIENCE 
[N.S. Vou. XXXV. No. 898 
themselves more generally of the aids 
from other portions of our science to help 
to lift themselves and their art to the 
worthy position to which both are entitled. 
Let the chemical analysts realize that they 
must take greater pride in their work for 
its own sake, let them demand a recogni- 
tion of the dignity claimed for it by Dr. 
Dudley, and let them give to it the best 
that is in them, in both activity of mind 
and skill of hand. This is a duty which is 
owed to our national reputation, to chem- 
ical science, pure and applied, and to our 
own welfare. 
H. P. Tatsor 
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE 
oF TECHNOLOGY 
THE CROCKER LAND EXPEDITION UNDER 
THE AUSPICES OF THE AMERICAN 
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 
AND THE AMERICAN GEO- 
GRAPHICAL SOCIETY 
TuHeE existence or non-existence of land 
northwest of Grant Land and the config- 
uration of the polar continental shelf of 
North America seem to be two of the great- 
est of the geographical problems still un- 
solved. There is, in addition, much impor- 
tant geological, geographical, zoological and 
other scientific work to be done in certain 
parts of the Arctic regions. Two thoroughly 
qualified young men have volunteered their 
services as leaders of an expedition to attack 
the problems and do the work. Under this 
combination of circumstances and with the 
proviso that sufficient funds be provided from 
outside sources, the American Museum of 
Natural History and the American Geograph- 
ical Society have made liberal appropriations 
in support of the enterprise, and the former 
institution has taken over its organization and 
management, feeling that it is well worthy of 
the backing of the scientific institutions of the 
country. 
The leaders of the expedition are to be 
George Borup (A.B., Yale, 1907), assistant 
curator of geology in the American Museum 
