August 5, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



145 



foster the interests of the Association ought 

 to be imperative. Through its semi-popu- 

 lar character and close touch with the 

 people, many things have been ' set going ' 

 to the great advantage of the members of the 

 National Academy and of other more or 

 less exclusive bodies, but they will not, of 

 themselves, keep going forever. It will be 

 a sorry day for science when the general 

 public is compelled to depend upon the col- 

 umns of such a press as at the present time 

 enlightens and instructs its readers in mat- 

 ters scientific. If for no other reason, the 

 best men in science might well afford to 

 join the Association in its migratory meet- 

 ings, that the people might have a chance 

 to know real science in contrast with the 

 quackery and humbug which is now daily 

 served out to them. This is preeminently 

 a function of this organization and one 

 which cannot be assumed by the National 

 Academy of Sciences, or any of the special- 

 ized groups. The same may be said of the 

 importance of the Association in exercising 

 a wise influence over public sentiment in 

 reference to all questions of general inter- 

 est in which science is in any waj' involved. 

 From the beginning this has been one of its 

 most valued and valuable features. Allied 

 to no other organization or State or Na- 

 tional Government, it has always dared 

 to speak its mind and in no uncertain 

 way. The National Academy, althovigh 

 the scientific adviser of the government, 

 is almost useless in this respect, be- 

 cause it waits until its advice is sought. 

 There is, and always will be, great need for 

 a strong representative scientific body, un- 

 related to political parties or government 



bureaus, through which the consensus of 

 opinion of scientific men of the country may 

 find free expression, especially in regard to 

 the scientific work and interests of the 

 government. In view of the rapidly in- 

 creasing tendency towards centralization of 

 scientific work in the government, and the 

 constant dangers by which such work is 

 threatened when under government con- 

 trol (a danger quite as likely to grow up 

 within as to come from without) , it will be 

 well worth while to maintain the Associa- 

 tion for this purpose, if for no other. 



The meeting in Boston must necessarily 

 be one of great moment. As the fiftieth an- 

 niversary meeting it will attract many of the 

 older members who have not generally at- 

 tended recent meetings, and many young 

 lovers of science who may with great profit 

 to themselves join its ranks. The place 

 and the time are both encouraging, and 

 Science hopes that the interest and en- 

 thusiasm that is sure to be awakened may 

 be such as to lead to a better appreciation 

 of the dignity and importance of the or- 

 ganization on the part of the leaders of 

 American science, and to such a readjust- 

 ment of its internal policy and external 

 relations as will best fit it for the great 

 work which it will be called upon to do 

 during the next half century. 



THE JURASSIC F0B3IAT10N ON THE 

 ATLANTIC COAST— SUPPLEMENT* 



At the autumn meeting of the National 

 Academy last j'ear, in New York, I made a 

 communication entitled ' The Jurassic For- 



* Abstract of a communication made to the National 

 Academy of Sciences, Boston meeting, November 18, 

 1897. 



