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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol.. XXXII. No. 828 



continue such representation. On such a 

 basis, and such a basis alone, do I think 

 local representation in the council should 

 be placed. The New York Section by its 

 large representation in the council, hon- 

 orary and elective, must have great influ- 

 ence in solving any problems to the society. 



I wish to ask your attention to two mat- 

 ters this evening. The first has to do with 

 the American Chemical Society in general. 



The most serious problem that the Amer- 

 ican Chemical Society is now facing is that 

 of increasing its efficiency. At present the 

 society maintains five different offices in 

 places as far separated as New Hampshire, 

 New York, Ohio and Illinois, with inade- 

 quate salary and other accounts at each 

 place. No criticism of any individual or 

 any one of these offices is intended or must 

 be inferred. We are grateful for the ex- 

 cellent services generously rendered, but it 

 is not good business. I would substitute a 

 concentration of organized efficiency for a 

 segregated unity of intent. This proposed 

 centralization of labor may be accom- 

 plished without destroying the democratic 

 representation and has amply good prece- 

 dent; and it will be made the easier of ac- 

 complishment by the early completion of 

 our splendid new club house, the American 

 Chemists' Home. There suitable office 

 space may be secured for the right man, 

 who should receive a substantial honora- 

 rium and be provided with associates and a 

 sufficient clerical force to care for the 

 library, the society's publications, and to 

 quickly dispatch all matters of business. 

 The desirability of this will become more 

 apparent as soon as the entire library of the 

 Chemical Society may be placed upon the 

 shelves, but especially when the circulating 

 Perkin and Chandler libraries become 

 available for the chemists throughout the 

 country. 



Second, as for the New York Section in 



particular. The more I study, in my pro- 

 fessorial capacity, the social and economic 

 conditions of this great city — this the sec- 

 ond city of the world, having within its 

 327 square miles more people than the 

 states of Massachusetts, Maine and Ver- 

 mont combined, with their 47,000 square 

 miles; having within its actual city limits 

 more people than were in the entire 

 United States when our government took 

 shape — the more convinced I am that New 

 York's greatest material need at present is 

 the chemist. To be sure, one who keeps 

 posted knows that Chandler worked 

 valiantly on the board of health for eleven 

 years, that Metz sought to put the pur- 

 chasing power of the city's money on a par 

 with that of any private corporation, that 

 Lederle is decreasing the death rate in our 

 municipality; but these are sporadic cases 

 and the influence exerted, however valu- 

 able and striking at the time, is more or 

 less evanescent by virtue of the method of 

 appointment and limiting term of office. 

 To be sure, an expert chemist controls the 

 quality of illuminating and fuel gas in the 

 city. A chemist, nominated by this sec- 

 tion, sits as a member of the municipal ex- 

 plosives commission. But, it seems strange 

 to me that a municipal sewerage commis- 

 sion should be in existence with no chemist 

 as a member. The sewage problem eon- 

 fronting us is undoubtedly a most serious 

 one, and one which we shall soon have to 

 solve at an expense even greater than the 

 cost of the magnificent new water system 

 that is now being installed. Advice ob- 

 tained from an adequate soil survey would 

 help relieve the distressing conditions of 

 our parks at present. It will be cruel if 

 the public service commission allows the 

 construction of any more subways without 

 stipulating that the trains going in oppo- 

 site directions be placed in separate tubes 

 or tunnels. The various devices for im- 



