890 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLII. No. 1095 



perior business or commercial intelligence 

 but because of the knowledge and techni- 

 cal skill of her chemists. 



Whatever we may think of the outcome 

 it can not be denied that it is applied 

 science that has enabled the German Em- 

 pire to suddenly convert itself into a huge 

 engine of destruction, all parts of which 

 seem to have been so delicately adjusted 

 to each other that the awful strain to which 

 the whole is now subjected is distributed 

 among the several members in exact pro- 

 portion to their ability to bear. Other na- 

 tions are learning this lesson in the hard 

 school of experience and they are paying 

 tuition in blood and treasure. 



Fortunately for us it may be learned by 

 observation as well as by experiment. 



T. C. Mendenhall 



November 9, 1915 



SISTOBICAL SKETCH OF TEE OHIO ACAD- 

 EMY OF SCIENCE 



Twenty-five years ago the first decisive 

 steps were taken looking toward the organi- 

 zation of an Ohio Academy of Science. At 

 the annual meeting of the Biological Club of 

 the State University held November 3, 1891, 

 the retiring president made a short address 

 in which he said substantially: There is 

 need of one institution in Ohio to the 

 organization of which our club should di- 

 rect its combined energy and influence. 

 This is a state academy of science. If local 

 clubs and societies of science are beneficial, 

 the reasons that make them so apply with 

 greater force to a state organization. Who 

 can estimate the inspiration, the stimulus to 

 research and investigation, that such an in- 

 stitution would provoke? In a great agri- 

 cultural state like Ohio, a deep, abiding and 

 constantly growing interest will ever be 

 taken in the sciences of geology, botany and 

 chemistry, for these constitute the very 

 foundation, the body and bones, of any ra- 



tional basis of practical knowledge regard- 

 ing soils and the various crops that grow 

 thereon. But our State Academy would 

 not be confined to the sciences that relate 

 so directly to soils and crops. All branches 

 of biology, as well as physics, chemistry, 

 mathematics, anthropology, meteorology, 

 economics, sociology, etc., everything that 

 contributes to the sum total of scientific 

 knowledge, should find a place. The initial 

 steps toward the founding of such an acad- 

 emy should be taken by this club, and 

 to-night. This can be done by the appoint- 

 ment of a committee, which should ener- 

 getically push the matter by preparing a 

 program for a meeting, and issuing a call to 

 all interested, to assist in the organization. 

 In pursuance with this declaration the club 

 appointed a committee consisting of D. S. 

 Kellicott, W. A. Kellerman and the speaker 

 to take such measures as in their judgment 

 were deemed best to carry into effect the 

 wishes of the Biological Club. 



The committee soon secured the promise 

 of hearty cooperation from many of the 

 most prominent scientists in Ohio, and 

 issued a call for a meeting to be held in 

 Columbus, December 31, 1891. 



The meeting took place at the date named, 

 and appointed a committee on organiza- 

 tion consisting of W. A. Kellerman, of the 

 Ohio State University; E. W. Claypole, of 

 Buchtel College; and Henry Snyder, of 

 Miami University. 



While the committee just named were 

 preparing a constitution and by-laws, 

 papers were read by Dr. A. M. Bleilie, E. E. 

 Bogue, J. M. Bradford, H. E. Chapin, H. J. 

 Detmers, W. A. Kellerman, D. S. Kellicott, 

 H. A. Weber, W. C. Warner and A. A. 

 Wright. 



After the adoption of a brief but compre- 

 hensive constitution and a few simple by- 

 laws, the organization was completed by the 

 election of the following officers to serve the 



