846 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIX. No. 492. 



It is not desirable to weary my readers 

 with a more extended exposition of our 

 ignorance concerning the earth on which' 

 we live, as outlined in the 'Year Book' from 

 which citations have just been made, but 

 I may perhaps be pardoned for mentioning 

 that following the presentation of the 

 larger problems referred to, comes a list of 

 sixteen extensive groiips of specific ques- 

 tions which demand for their solution the 

 establishment and maintenance for a series 

 of years of an extensive and well-equipped 

 geophysical laboratory. 



The immediate lesson illustrated by this 

 catalogue of wants is: great as are the re- 

 sults of the geological studies already made, 

 several chapters of the earth 's history have 

 yet to be written and nearly all of the chap- 

 ters already in print need thorough re- 

 vision. 



In the 'Year Book' cited above, the de- 

 sire for further knowledge on the part of 

 geographers, meteorologists, chemists, pa- 

 leontologists, zoologists, psychologists, an- 

 thropologists, bibliographers, engineers, 

 physiologists, historians, mathematicians, 

 etc., are outlined, and in each department 

 the importance of pressing on Avith dis- 

 covery is clearly and earnestly expressed.' 



It win perhaps be a surprise to many 

 persons, that in the recommendations for 

 research work made to the Carnegie Institu- 

 tion, astronomy occupies more space than 

 is assigned to any other science. Seventy- 

 three pages are devoted to outline plans of 

 some of the ways in which the study of the 

 heavens can be continued with .the promise 

 of valuable returns. If the oldest of the 

 sciences has such hopes for the future, 

 surely the outer boundary of the knowable 

 is far distant. 



There is another point of view by which 

 the magnitude of the research work brought 

 to the attention of the trustees of the Car- 

 negie Institution may be estimated. About 

 one half of the plans suggested by ad- 



visory committees are accompanied by 

 estimates of cost. This category— inclu- 

 ding estimates in several instances for labo- 

 ratories, observatories, biological stations, 

 endowments, etc., and running expenses for 

 a period of five years— calls for an ex- 

 penditure of about $16,000,000. The ex- 

 pense of all the investigations outlined for 

 a period of five years may safely be 

 placed at $30,000,000, or three times the 

 present capital of the Carnegie Institution. 

 In this connection it is to be remembered 

 that the institution does not propose to un- 

 dertake any research already provided for 

 by individuals, universities, societies, etc., 

 but to supplement such work or cooperate 

 in carrying it on. The plans to which at- 

 tention has been directed are for investi- 

 gations over and above those already initi- 

 ated or likely to be made mthout the aid 

 of the Carnegie Institution. And again, 

 to some extent the work outlined is circum- 

 scribed by political limits and pertains to 

 the United States. 



This brief showing of the problem al- 

 ready in view will, I think, serve to sustain 

 the statement made above, in reference to 

 the vastness of the realm of the unknown 

 which surrounds us on every side. To ex- 

 tend the limits of the kno'mi in all the direc- 

 tions in which scientific men are looking 

 Avould certainly require the resources of 

 many Carnegie institutions, and the time 

 and energy of many generations of investi- 

 gators. 



Increasing Difficulty of Research. — In 

 considering the aims of research and the 

 means available for its encouragement, the 

 increasing difficulties in the way of dis- 

 covery as knowledge increases, should be 

 clearly recognized. Not only this, but the 

 tendency to feel that enough has been ac- 

 complished, or in other words, self-satisfac- 

 tion, needs to be combated. Contentment 

 is not the motto of the enquiring mind. 



The close scrutiny, the hard and long- 



