January 5, 1917] 



SCIENCE 



13 



Eochester, New York, which was discussed by- 

 Mr. G. C. Mars, of St. Louis. Mr. F. Wm. 

 Walker, who was to have discussed the same 

 topic, was unable to be present. 



At the close of the forenoon session, the 

 speakers and guests of the university were en- 

 tertained at luncheon at the University Club 

 by the dean and heads of departments of the 

 College of Engineering. The formal session 

 of dedication convened at the university audi- 

 torium in the afternoon. It was presided over 

 by Dean W. F. M. Goss, of the college of engi- 

 neering. Introductory addresses were made by 

 the Honorable Edward F. Dunne, governor of 

 the state of Illinois, and by Honorable W. L. 

 Abbott, president of the board of trustees of 

 the University of Illinois. The principal ad- 

 dress of this session was then given by Pro- 

 fessor Charles F. Binns, director of the New 

 York State School of Clayworking and Cera- 

 mics, upon the topic " The History of the 

 Ceramic Arts." The exercises were closed 

 with an address by the president of the uni- 

 versity, describing the history of the growth 

 of the department of ceramic engineering. 

 After singing " America " the audience 

 marched to the new building where the prayer 

 of dedication was delivered by the Eev. John 

 Mitchell Page. 



On the evening of the 7th, an Illinois stu- 

 dent branch of the American Ceramic Society 

 was formally installed by Mr. L. E. Barringer, 

 president of the society. 



An illustrated booklet describing the de- 

 partment of ceramic engineering, its organiza- 

 tion, purposes and equipment was published 

 by the university for distribution at the dedi- 

 cation exercises. 



"SCIENCE" AND THE COST OF PAPER 



The price of the paper on which Science is 

 printed has increased from four and one 

 quarter to ten cents a pound, and this makes 

 the cost of supplying the fifty-two annual 

 copies of Science to members of the Amer- 

 ican Association for the Advancement of Sci- 

 ence greater than the amount paid for them, 

 apart from editorial expenses and the cost of 

 composition. Under these circumstances it is 



necessary to adopt one of three alternatives : 

 (1) To use news print paper, which is diffi- 

 cult to obtain and is not durable; (2) to in- 

 crease the subscription price, as has been done 

 by the Outlook, the Independent and other 

 journals, but an increase could not go into 

 effect for a year, and it is to be hoped that 

 the abnormal price of paper is temporary; (3) 

 to diminish the size of the numbers. This, 

 although regrettable, appears to be the least 

 unforttmate of the alternatives, as the regular 

 number of pages can be used when conditions 

 become normal. 



For the present, therefore. Science will be 

 reduced in size to two sheets with a cover. 

 The cover is used to improve the appearance 

 of the journal, and is feasible because the cost 

 of cover paper has not increased in propor- 

 tion to the cost of book paper. The cover also 

 permits trimming the copies without injury 

 to the appearance of the journal. Hitherto 

 trimmed and untrimmed copies have been 

 sent to subscribers as requested, but this com- 

 plicates the subscription list, and there seems 

 to be a general opinion that the copies should 

 be trimmed, in spite of the fact that un- 

 trimmed copies are preferred for binding. The 

 most distinguished American efficiency expert 

 remarked this week that if the time of scien- 

 tific men should be estimated at its true value 

 the cost of opening Science by hand would be 

 over $10,000 a year. 



In order to effect a further saving in paper 

 the index and title page for the volume will 

 be sent to libraries as usual, but only to indi- 

 viduals who apply for them. This plan is fol- 

 lowed by other weekly journals, for the index 

 is only of use to those who bind the numbers. 



As has been already announced, members of 

 the American Association whose dues are paid 

 later than January 1, will receive the back num- 

 bers of Science only on payment of one cent 

 a number to cover the extra cost of mailing. 

 It can not be guaranteed that the copies will 

 be supplied, as, owing to the cost of paper, 

 only so many extra copies will be provided as 

 are likely to be needed. The offices of the per- 

 manent secretary of the association and of 

 Science will be greatly assisted by the prompt 

 payment of dues. 



