268 
education in the Northwest Territory. That 
ordinance provided for the support of edu- 
cation by generous grants of land. Out of 
this the public school system rapidly grew. 
The development of the public schools made 
possible the growth of the State university. 
Nor need I remind you that the most 
characteristic feature of education in the 
last twenty-five years has been the growth 
and development of the State universities in 
this great territory. Nor need I remind you 
that to the west of us may be found a num- 
ber of State universities older and better 
equipped and with a larger teaching force 
than the one with which you are now meet- 
ing. Ohio was the first State carved out of 
the Northwest Territory, but practically 
the last to develop her university. 
To the west you may think of Indiana, 
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 
Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and 
others. You are meeting to-day at the 
gateway to these great educational centers. 
The Ohio State University is exceedingly 
happy in the privilege of extending a wel- 
come to you, not only in her own name, but 
in the name of all these institutions which 
are to do so much in the future for indus- 
trial and scientific education in the Great 
West. We recognize in this Association a 
body of men devoted to the study of science 
and scientific education. We trust that your 
stuy with us will assure you that the Ohio 
State University proposes to prove her right 
to existence by ministering to the needs of 
the people, and by presenting to them an 
open opportunity to the best that modern 
education can supply. 
Let me assure you of a very cordial 
welcome and of our best wishes for a suc- 
cessful meeting. 
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 
Dr. EpwaArp Orton said: In behalf of 
the American Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science I return to you our cordial 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8. Von. X. No, 244. 
thanks for the welcome which you have 
this day given us to the capital of Ohio. 
We note with pleasure all that you say of 
the State and the City. Weare sure that 
you have not exaggerated the charms 
of this noble section of the Mississippi 
Valley, which, all things considered, 
its location, its climate, its agricul- 
tural and its mineral resources, we take to 
be’as the great Frenchman, De Tocqueville, 
declared, three-quarters of a century ago, 
the noblest dwelling place that God has fit- 
ted up for the occupation of the human race. 
The principal office of such a reception 
as this is, I take it, to set both parties at 
their ease, to put host and guest on good 
terms with each other. You have spoken 
for the host and we accept all that you 
claim for the city and the State at its face 
value. We count ourselves happy to be 
here. Weare glad to enjoy for a few days 
your hospitality. We hope and expect that 
the Columbus meeting of the Association 
will prove a memorable one, one that will 
shine in our annals, if not by the announce- 
ment of great discoveries in the heavens or 
earth, still by the inspiration it will give to 
multitudes of workers in the several fields 
of science. 
And now let mesay a word for the guests 
on this occasion. I shall ask you to accept, 
without any discount, all that we shall say 
about ourselves, all that we claim for our 
work, in the same generous spirit that we 
have already manifested toward you. Peo- 
ple come to be on good terms with each 
other more easily, perhaps, if they are first 
on good terms with themselves. As our 
hosts you have shown a good measure of 
self-complacency, and you will not expect 
us to fall behind in this virtue. Well, 
then, I may say for the American Associa- 
tion for the Advancement of Science that 
it is well worthy of the hospitality which 
you proffer. It deserves all the honor that 
Columbus or any other community of the 
