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receipts on all products of both farm and forest, we have a measure 

 of the interdependence of the mineral industry and the railroads. 

 The proper regulation of common carriers thus becomes a pre- 

 requisite of the full utilization of our mineral resources, and on 

 such a political issue no citizen should have a larger interest or more 

 intelligent opinion than the geologist. It is therefore more than a 

 happy coincidence that President Van Hise has rendered large 

 service to society in his contributions to the railroad and labor 

 problems; the broad training of the geologist is being utilized in the 

 work of the publicist. 



Have I not already shown that the geologist is well qualified by 

 his special training to serve his day and generation, not only in the 

 capacity of professional adviser but, better than that, in the role 

 of fellow citizen? It may be rather late in this discourse for me to 

 select a text, but there is an old saying in the book of Proverbs that 

 has been much in my mind for several months — " Where there is 

 no vision the people perish." Imagination is necessary in our 

 science, and it is equally essential to the larger citizenship. I believe 

 the geologist possesses the vision ; his duty and privilege is to let 

 that vision guide him to a larger public service. 



