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SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XVI. No. 403. 



cumstances where cooperation with other 

 great agencies for scientific investigation 

 might be most fertile in results. Thus, if 

 at present the Carnegie Institution would 

 offer to equip an antarctic expedition to 

 cooperate with those of Great Britain and 

 Germany, on condition that the government 

 furnish ships a.nd officers, the offer might 

 be accepted. Or to talce a modest case 

 within my immediate experience — we need 

 iirgently in the psychological laboratory of 

 Cohmibia University a computer who could 

 also act as a trained subject for psycholog- 

 ical measurements. Such computers and 

 aids are as much needed in psychology as 

 in astronomy, but they do not at present 

 exist, and it is difficvilt to persuade the 

 trustees of a university that this is really 

 a pressing demand. Should the Carnegie 

 Institution offer to give $500 a year for 

 three years toward the salary of a compu- 

 ter on condition that Columbia University 

 contribute an equal sum, it would doubtless 

 do so. After three years the support of the 

 computer would probably be assumed by 

 the university, and similar offices would 

 be established in other universities here and 

 abroad. In a case such as this a very 

 small sum would contribute greatly to the 

 advance of psychology as an experimental 

 science. This case is given simply as an 

 example of the way in which the Carnegie 

 Institution could accomplish results by co- 

 operating with existing institutions. 



Two of the most important agencies for 

 the advancement of science are societies and 

 journals. Wliatever can be done to promote 

 their efficiency will contribute greatly to 

 scientific progress. In many cases grants 

 made to scientific societies might be ad- 

 ministered more eft'ectively than if the Car- 

 negie Institution imdertook the direct con- 

 trol. Thus the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science, with an en- 

 dowment fund of about -$10,000, is able to 

 appropriate annually aboi;t $300 for re- 



search. This insignificant sum is divided 

 among five or six committees who super- 

 vise Avork of importance. If the resources 

 of the association were increased, they 

 might under the auspices of its committees 

 be expended more economically than direct 

 grants from the institution. Or, to take 

 again an example from my own science, the 

 American Psychological Association has 

 gradually acquired from the dues of mem- 

 bers a fund of about $1,000. The proposal 

 has been made that this money be used for 

 a psychological bibliography, which does 

 not at present exist and is urgently needed. 

 It is estimated that such a bibliography 

 will cost $2,000, and it will be necessary to 

 wait some years before this sum will ac- 

 cumulate from the dues of members. 

 Should the Carnegie Institution add $1,000 

 to the equal sum in the possession of the 

 association, it would be possible to proceed 

 with the bibliography. The money would 

 be spent economically, as only clerical work 

 and printing would be paid for, while the 

 skilled labor would be given by the associa- 

 tion. 



The great area of this country interposes 

 a serious obstacle to scientific organization. 

 If means could be found for paying the 

 railway expenses of delegates to the meet- 

 ings of our national scientific societies, a 

 forward step of great importance would be 

 taken. I scarcely see how the Carnegie 

 Institution could undertake this large proj- 

 ect, but it might cooperate with societies and 

 educational institutions in forwarding it. 



In the case of scientific journals I can 

 speak with some experience. Our scientific 

 journals are absolutely essential to the pro- 

 gress of science. Those devoted to pure 

 science are in all cases scientific and educa- 

 tional institutions, not commercial enter- 

 prises; most of them are in need of sup- 

 port and deserve it as much as universities 

 or museums. It is, however, difficult to 

 give such support in a useful and economic- 



