GEOLOGY AFTER THE WAR 187 



Geology, the science of the earth — its character, origin, and historical 

 development, particularly as recorded in the rocks — has reached the point 

 where the accentuated call for the application of the knowledge thus far 

 acquired threatens to result in a serious decline in the prosecution of 

 geological research. The science is still in the early stages of its devel- 

 opment, and to retard its progress will be unfortunate in every way. 



It is far beyond the possible limits of this address to analyze the pres- 

 ent situation with desirable thoroughness and discuss in full the remedies 

 for its unfavorable aspects. But some phases may be pointed out. 



Professor Gregory has presented a picture of the recent decline in the 

 attention paid to geology proper in our colleges and universities which 

 calls for immediate attention. That this condition must be remedied is 

 certainly not open to question, although the task is one of manifest 

 difficulty. 



Coincident with the decreasing interest in the foundation work of geol- 

 ogy in educational institutions has come the great increase in the appli- 

 cation of geology to practical ends in Government and State surveys and 

 in technical work generally. This means an increase in technical courses, 

 in mining schools, and heavy drafts on the personnel of geological de- 

 partments in colleges. While such development is eminently desirable 

 and must in the end redound to the advantage of the science, the imme- 

 diate effect is unfortunate. As this call for the geologist to turn himself 

 to economic work of some kind is accompanied by offers of relatively high 

 remuneration and a cultivation of the insidious and erroneous idea of the 

 higher public service thereby rendered, it is no wonder that for the time 

 being progress in the science has been decidedly retarded. 



The general character of the steps to be taken in restoring geology as 

 a science to its proper place in schools, colleges, and universities, and in 

 the research bureaus of the National and State governments is clear. In 

 the first place, there must be serious and unrelaxing effort to educate the 

 student of geology and all who are concerned in the technical use of 

 geological knowledge to the appreciation of the fundamental truth that 

 progress of the science itself is essential to advance in its application to 

 practical ends. If this is true, then the position of the teacher and the 

 research geologist must be more generously recognized and sustained than 

 at present. The honorable and admirable attitude of devotion to science 

 should not be made to mean too great a financial sacrifice. 



The Geological Society of America is a body of specially trained men 

 and women associated through their mutual interest in the science of 

 geology. The Society is of much value to its members through the bene- 

 fits derived from its annual meeting and its publication ; 1)ut it does not 



