130 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXIII. No. 578. 



rate, that the possession of a laboratory and 

 enthusiasm, along with a bundle of recom- 

 mendations, should not suffice to qualify an 

 applicant for the arduous work of research. 

 3. A graver objection to this system of 

 small grants lies in its tendency to supplant 

 other sources of support for scientific in- 

 vestigation in allied institutions, and espe- 

 cially in colleges and universities. The 

 facts should be known that thus far the 

 institution has carried on work through aid 

 given to about 270 individuals connected 

 with 89 different institutions. Of these 

 latter, nearly three fourths are schools, col- 

 leges and universities. Since the normal 

 condition of an educational institution too 

 often borders on poverty, it is only natural 

 that investigators connected with such or- 

 ganizations should look to the Carnegie 

 Institution of Washington for relief. An 

 easy calculation, however, shows that the 

 possible relief from this source in inade- 

 quate. Thus, a conservative estimate of 

 the men and women connected with Ameri- 

 can institutions of learning alone, and cap- 

 able of making fruitful researches, Avould 

 include not less than one thousond. The 

 smallest average annual grant that would 

 be effective in such work is $1,000. Hence 

 it is seen that twice the income of the insti- 

 tution would not begin t-o meet the demands 

 on it coming from educational institutions 

 alone. Depending unduly on another in- 

 stitiition for support tends also, it would 

 appear, not only to dry up the local springs 

 of support, but to sap the independence of 

 educational institutions. That any of them 

 should desire to know how much aid may be 

 expected from the institution before ma- 

 king up their budgets for an academic year 

 is a matter of serious import. Obviously 

 it is the duty of the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington to avoid the danger of sup- 

 planting, while seeking in part to supple- 

 ment, the iunctions of educational institu- 

 tions. 



No similar difficulties or objections have 

 arisen in the administration of the larger 

 projects of the institution. In the case of 

 these projects, however, the ways and means 

 are provided by rather than for, and the 

 investigators are chosen by rather than for, 

 the institution. In short, the institution is, 

 in this case, enabled to assume and fix re- 

 sponsibility in the conduct of its affairs and 

 to push them energetically ; whereas, in the 

 other case, responsibility is divided, energy 

 is generally lacking, and time and money 

 are in constant danger of being frittered 

 away amongst a miiltitude of minor in- 

 terests. 



Summarily stated, therefore, the indica- 

 tions are that the policy of awarding 

 numerous small grants to self -suggested in- 

 vestigators is destined to break down under 

 the sheer weight of the importunities it 

 entails; that the results to be expected from 

 such grants are meager ; and that the award 

 of them, unless narrowly limited and care- 

 fully guarded, may work grave injury to 

 educational institutions. 



New Projects. 



The demands for attention from appli- 

 cants for small grants have left scant time 

 during the year for the consideration of 

 more important prospective work falling 

 within the scope of the institution. It has 

 been deemed essential, also, to devote most 

 of this time to the larger projects already 

 under way, with a vicAV to increasing their 

 facilities and insuring their success. Never- 

 theless, many new projects have been con- 

 templated, and several of these may be 

 formulated for action without undue delay 

 whenever the institution is ready to con- 

 sider them. 



Two of these projects which merit special 

 attention, by reason of the fact that they 

 have been considered at much length by ad- 

 visory committees and by the executive com- 

 mittee during the past three years, are: (1) 



