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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIV. No. 871 



complicated one, and it will demand the 

 combined efforts of experts and legislators 

 for a generation ; but if it be not considered 

 with the definite intention of immediate 

 action, we shall be held up to the deserved 

 execration of our not very remote descen- 

 dants. 



The two great principles which I have 

 alluded to in an earlier part of this address 

 must not, however, be lost sight of; they 

 should guide all our efforts to use energy 

 economically. Concentration of energy in 

 the form of electric current at high poten- 

 tial makes it possible to convey it for long 

 distances through thin and therefore com- 

 paratively inexpensive wires; and the eco- 

 nomic coefficient of the conversion of me- 

 chanical into electrical, and of electrical 

 into mechanical energy is a high one; the 

 useless expenditure does not much exceed 

 one twentieth part of the energy which can 

 be utilized. These considerations would 

 point to the conversion at the pit-mouth of 

 the energy of the fuel into electrical 

 energy, using as an intermediary, turbines, 

 or preferably gas engines ; and distributing 

 the electrical energy to where it is wanted. 

 The use of gas engines may, if desired, be 

 accompanied by the production of half- 

 distilled coal, a fuel which burns nearly 

 without smoke, and one which is suitable 

 for domestic fires, if it is found too difficult 

 to displace them and to induce our popula- 

 tion to adopt the more efficient and eco- 

 nomical systems of domestic heating which 

 are used in America and on the continent. 

 The increasing use of gas for factory, 

 metallurgical and chemical purposes points 

 to the gradual concentration of works near 

 the coal mines, in order that the laying- 

 down of expensive piping may be avoided. 



An invention which would enable us to 

 convert the energy of coal directly into 

 electrical energy would revolutionize our 

 ideas and methods, yet it is not unthink- 

 able. The nearest practical approach to 



this is the Mond gas-battery, which, how- 

 ever, has not succeeded, owing to the im- 

 perfection of the machine. 



In conclusion, I would put in a plea for 

 the study of pure science, without regard 

 to its applications. The discovery of 

 radium and similar radioactive substances 

 has widened the bounds of thought. While 

 themselves, in all probability, incapable of 

 industrial application, save in the domain 

 of medicine, their study has shown us to 

 what enormous advances in the concentra- 

 tion of energy it is permissible to look for- 

 ward, with the hope of applying the knowl- 

 edge thereby gained to the betterment of 

 the whole human race. As charity begins 

 at home, however, and as I am speaking to 

 the British Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, I would urge that our 

 first duty is to strive for all which makes 

 for the permanence of the British common- 

 weal, and which will enable us to trans- 

 mit to our posterity a heritage not un- 

 worthy to be added to that which we have 

 received from those who have gone before. 

 William Ramsay 



tee fibst univebsal races congress 



Thanks to the indefatigable energy and en- 

 thusiasm of Mr. Gustav Spiller, who was ably 

 assisted by Mrs. Spiller and supported by a 

 large and representative committee, a new 

 departure in the history of the world has been 

 made by bringing together representatives of 

 many classes of varied peoples to confer on 

 the problems connected with the contact of 

 races and peoples. During the week of the 

 congress there could be seen in the halls of 

 the University of London men and women of 

 all shades of color and of different religions 

 in friendly converse or planning schemes for 

 breaking down racial and other prejudice, as 

 well as for the betterment of mankind. For 

 the majority it was a very serious occasion, 

 as it is evident that they would not have come 

 from such great distances at considerable ex- 

 pense and trouble if they had not thought it 



