58 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXV. No. 628 



they are brought to a satisfactory degree 

 of completion. This conclusion seems like- 

 wise almost axiomatic, since it is deter- 

 mined essentially by a limited income. 

 Many, if not a majority, however, of highly 

 esteemed colleagues oppose this conclusion, 

 and ai'gue that a distribution of income in 

 small grants to widely scattered investi- 

 gators will be more productive in imme- 

 diate results and of more ultimate benefit 

 to society. But this argument does not 

 appear to be supported by the experience 

 of the institution. It is impossible, of 

 course, to draw precise inferences from this 

 limited experience; but after a careful ex- 

 amination of the facts at hand I think it 

 safe to state that no direct return may be 

 anticipated from more than half of the 

 small grants made up to the present time 

 for minor researches and for research 

 assistantships. Moreover, it appears to me 

 that this is as high a percentage of effi- 

 ciency as may be reasonably expected from 

 miscellaneous applicants for aid, since a 

 majority of them will be men and women 

 of enthusiasm and promise merely rather 

 than of demonstrated ability to carry re- 

 searches to successful conclusions. 



In weighing this matter the educational 

 value of such widely scattered aid should 

 not be overlooked. Many a meagerly 

 equipped laboratory or library may be 

 thus strengthened and many young men 

 and women may be thus trained for work 

 of research. The possession of a piece of 

 apparatus, or a rare volume, or the oppor- 

 tunity to pursue early in life a year or two 

 of uninterrupted scientific investigation, is, 

 doubtless, of inestimable value to a few in- 

 dividuals. But the obvious objection to 

 such a disposition of resources is that it 

 serves only to supplement the educational 

 work of colleges and universities. They 

 already occupy this tield, and it appears 

 unwise as well as unfair to encroach on 

 their domain even in a supplementary way. 



A less obvious objection is that arising 

 from the diverse interests and the divided 

 responsibilities which such a course en- 

 tails. It may be observed also that as re- 

 gards themselves the experience of colleges 

 and universities appears to be inimical to 

 such a course, for we have not heard of 

 any of them proposing to use its income, 

 or any considerable share thereof, in build- 

 ing up departments of educational work in 

 other institutions. But the fundamental 

 objection to such a disposition of funds is 

 that it promotes research only indirectly, 

 whereas the primary object of a research 

 institution should be to promote research 

 directly. A research institution should 

 aim to take up investigations which, by 

 reason of their expense or magnitude, are 

 not likely to be carried to completion in 

 other ways. And in the pursuit of this 

 work it should be free to choose the best 

 ways and means ; it should not be hampered 

 by a host of applicants backed by endless 

 recommendations of doubtful validity. 



Thirdly, that the institution may advan- 

 tageously limit much more narrowly than 

 hitherto the award of minor grants. It 

 should seek to eliminate the amateur, the 

 dilettante and the tyro as far as possible 

 from the list of eligible applicants, and 

 concentrate attention chiefly on those who 

 have already demonstrated ability to pro- 

 duce results. This policy will restrict the 

 range of operations of the institution to 

 some extent, but it will diminish the hazard 

 to a greater extent, and will permit a de- 

 gree of thoroughness of work not otherwise 

 attainable. 



One of the most serious objections to giv- 

 ing aid to numerous small projects lies in 

 the fact, amply shown by experience, that 

 the estimates of the cost thereof are gen- 

 erally vague and almost always too small 

 for the accomplishment of good work. 

 Many, if not most, authors of such projects 

 proceed withoi^t plans and specifications. 



