FUNCTION OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION 341 



nize that the cvery-day operations of great laboratories conducted by far- 

 seeing corporations are developing some of the most significant advances 

 in fundamental science of today. The student of pure science must al- 

 ways keep in close contact with these special researches, both to be helpful 

 and to receive from the engineer the great wealth of data which should 

 be incorporated into the organized body of fundamental science. 



(2) Government institutions, as exemplified by the federal bureaus 

 and laboratories of the United States, represent a field which is in some 

 respects intermediate between that of engineers who apply and that of 

 the special students of pure science concerned only with the principles 

 of their subjects. The laboratories of government departments exist for 

 the special purpose of contributing for the benefit of the community. It 

 is necessary that they serve as sources of information for practical appli- 

 cations and for interpretation of the principles of science to the great 

 group of inquiring engineers throughout the country. 



Consideration of scientific problems relating to specific community 

 needs leads the government bureau to undertake far-reaching and funda- 

 mental investigations in the broadest fields of applied science. KSn-^h 

 researches, by reason of the wide range of interests covered, may ex •.;*;■ 

 farther than the studies of the engineer or the corporation. As insi na- 

 tions which stand for a continuing people, the government bureaus sh -^^l^l 

 be able to undertake inquiries from which results might first bee . ■ 

 available to later generations. It is unfortunate that budget require- 

 ments and responsibilities of political parties tend to limit us in handling 

 of projects which should be continued for long periods or with large 

 funds, for the expenditure of which immediate returns may not be visible. 

 It is presumably true that all science has its application in one form or 

 another, but exceptional vision is required in organization of government 

 work to make it clear that every phase of each investigation undertaken 

 represents efficient application of science for real needs. By reason of 

 its practical limitations, the government organization may lose oppor- 

 tunity for consideration of certain critical problems the settlement of 

 which would ultimately be of great advantage to the state. 



(3) Research foundations, with ample resources, freedom of choice in 

 selection of objectives, and with trained men of vision directing their 

 researches, have given opportunity not otherwise available for exhaustive 

 investigation of fundamental problems and groups of problems without 

 regard to the time required in the study and without reference to imme- 

 diacy of pressure for application. These institutions have in some meas- 

 ure covered the fields for basic investigation which the corporation engi- 



