16 



SCIENCE 



[N. s; Vol. XLI. No. 1044 



Greek and Latin inscriptions, a great 

 Egyptian dictionary, and other similar 

 undertakings, might well be imitated here. 

 For instance, it would have been of great 

 advantage to tlie Academy if it had been 

 able to furnish Professor Newcomb with 

 offices for the computers employed in his 

 extensive astronomical researches, during 

 the active period which followed his retire- 

 ment from the Nautical Almanac office. 

 Small study rooms for members staying in 

 Washington, engaged in writing or research 

 involving the use of the Academy library, 

 would also be useful. 



The two wings shown to the right and 

 left of the main building are intended for 

 research laboratories. While the great 

 majority of members seem to favor the in- 

 clusion of such laboratories in the Acad- 

 •emy's scheme of development, there are a 

 :few who do not, and it is desirable to point 

 'Out why they appear desirable. The 

 Academy stands, first and foremost, for 

 research, which it seeks to advance in every 

 effective way. It may thus follow the 

 example of various academies abroad, such 

 as St. Petersburg, which carries on impor- 

 tant researches in physics and other sub- 

 jects; Stockholm, which has long provided 

 in its own laboratories for the spectroscopic 

 investigations of Hasselberg; and Berlin, 

 which has produced the extensive investi- 

 gations already enumerated. Nothing 

 could do more to advance the Academy's 

 influence on the progress of science than 

 the production of important results from 

 its own laboratories. But there is another 

 and even stronger argument in favor of 

 their establishment. 



It has been well said by one who has 

 ■ studied the problems of the Academy, that 

 the success of its future work must depend 

 upon the discovery of men who are willing 

 and able to devote the necessary time and 

 energy to it. Two Academy members, in 



commenting on suggestions for a building, 

 remark that not laboratories, but men are 

 needed. Those who are familiar with the 

 history of the Academy are aware of the 

 great amount of unselfish effort which it 

 owes to its officers and members. But the 

 fact remains that a man's first allegiance is 

 to the university or other institution which 

 counts him on its staff. As long as he re- 

 tains such connections he can devote only 

 his spare time to the work of the Academy, 

 which, nevertheless, demands his best 

 efforts. 



The provision of research laboratories, 

 with funds for their maintenance, would 

 enable the Academy to command the entire 

 time and effort of some of the ablest men 

 in the country. The growing work, which 

 already throws heavier burdens than the 

 members realize on the willing shoulders of 

 the Home Secretary, may later demand 

 (as in the Royal Society) the services of 

 two men, one representing the mathematical 

 and physical, the other the biological sci- 

 ences. The only way to secure the un- 

 divided service of such men is to offer them 

 adequate salaries, a suitable staff of assis- 

 tants, and ample laboratory facilities. 

 Thus, while carrying on their researches in 

 the name of the Academy, they would be 

 able to direct the extensive work which the 

 exhibits of current and historical research, 

 the publication of the Proceedings and 

 other contemplated activities must involve. 

 Their position would be much like that of 

 Faraday at the Eoyal Institution, with 

 added duties defined by the broader range 

 of the Academy's field. 



An important object of the proposed re- 

 search laboratories, therefore, is to attract 

 and hold the men whose unrestricted time 

 and energy the Academy urgently needs. 

 Volunteer service will continue and multi- 

 ply, but it can never hope to accomplish all 

 that the future will require. 



