May 29, 1903.] 



SCIENCE. 



855 



many peizsons who are anxious to carry on 

 some work involving original study. It 

 should be fostered in every individual. 

 There are few people who do not in early 

 life have a love for nature. Unfortunately 

 for the large number, this natural tendency 

 to inquire into nature's secrets is smoth- 

 ered by the many other forms of mental 

 activity in which they must engage. This 

 natural tendency, if properly directed and 

 stimulated, may be the beginning of more 

 important studies in science, or art. Our 

 state is young. It is no discredit to say 

 the work of science and art within its bor- 

 ders is not extensive, indeed, is small. But 

 the opportunity is here and all that is 

 necessary is to mass the forces, bring in all 

 those with a desire for work and give 

 them encouragement, and work to a com- 

 mon end. 



The academy should seek avenues for ad- 

 vertising the scientific, artistic and literary 

 opportunities presented by the state. There 

 should be no selfish motives in any work 

 undertaken. With a state as large as this 

 there is abundant room for a large num- 

 ber of skilled workers. What the state 

 needs is men of money and men of brains. 

 The former for the establishment of those 

 industries necessary to develop the state, 

 the latter to seek out new lines of develop- 

 ment. Tens of thousands might come in, 

 and still the field would scarcely be 

 touched. This end may be accomplished 

 by articles in the daily and weekly press. 

 Rarely is an intelligent article relative to 

 the state refused by the brethren of the 

 newspaper fraternity. Those more gifted 

 may prepare articles for the more preten- 

 tious magazines. Pictures of local artists 

 should be purchased and, if possible, dis- 

 tributed. Books and magazines should be 

 purchased. It is not a very encouraging 

 sign to see so excellent a local publication 

 as the Rocky Mountain Magazine die for 



lack of support. There are many ways 

 in which the state may be advertised, and 

 each individual must use his own judg- 

 ment as to the best means at his disposal. 



The academy should devise means for 

 disseminating the knowledge presented by 

 members at the regular meetings in the 

 papers and discussions. 



The earlier history of the California 

 academy is worth recording. During its 

 first years it commanded but little at- 

 tention. Record of its business and ab- 

 stracts of papers were given to the public 

 through the medium of the daily press. 

 Now the academy is one of the strongest in 

 the United States, and its publications 

 are of a high order and quite numerous. 

 The publications of the Montana Academy 

 should be issued by the state as state docu- 

 ments. The means of the academy will 

 be limited for some years. If the state's 

 material resources are developed by mem- 

 bers of the academy the people of the 

 state should be willing to bear their propor- 

 tion of the expense, since the work of in- 

 vestigation is gratuitous. If papers in 

 pure science, arts or letters are presented, 

 these should be printed on the ground that 

 all such work is for the advancement of 

 human knowledge. The work of the one 

 preparing the paper is much greater than 

 that necessitated by each taxpayer for its 

 dissemination. The distinction between 

 the practical and theoretical can not be 

 drawn. The theoretical often becomes 

 practical, and neither can do without the 

 other. All papers of importance, there- 

 fore, should be printed. With proper 

 safeguards, the publication of the trans- 

 actions of the academy should be an 

 honor to the state and of great value to 

 its citizens. I suggest that this academy 

 recommend to the legislature the enactment 

 of a law for the printing of the transac- 

 tions of the academy as state documents. 



