980 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXI. No. .548. 



to the student body. It would also intro- 

 duce the problem of establishing a dormi- 

 tory system— a problem altogether too im- 

 portant to be settled thus incidentally. A 

 carefully devised dormitory system, it is 

 true, might not seriously menace the pro- 

 fessional spirit of our students; but the 

 establishment of such a dormitory system 

 in proximity to Harvard College would in- 

 volve exceptional difficulties. Upon the 

 question of transportation it may be said 

 that the means now existing and projected, 

 together with the increased facilities that 

 a demand would stimulate, make the loca- 

 tion as accessible as might be expected of 

 any place at a similar distance from the 

 center of Boston. 



On the other hand, our present site has 

 contributed in no small degree to the dis- 

 tinct individuality of the Institute. This 

 site, in a busy city, is by many regarded 

 as one of our most valuable educational 

 assets, and has great strategic advantages. 

 Students can live in any of the surround- 

 ing suburbs, and can in general reach the 

 Institute by one line of steam or electric 

 cars without change, and are within walk- 

 ing distance of the railroad stations; and 

 in like manner they can go from the Insti- 

 tute to engineering and industrial works in 

 a wide circle of suburbs and neighboring 

 towns. The central location attracts to 

 our halls educational and engineering 

 bodies that help to make a professional 

 atmosphere, and assist in advertising the 

 Institute to a scientific constituency of the 

 utmost importance. 



Lacli of Definition of the Term 'Industrial 

 Science,' as Bearing upon Instruction 



and upon Degrees. 

 In connection with the proposed alliance, 

 much, has been said of the avoidance of 

 educational duplication; but the terms of 

 the agreement as they stand fail to make 



it clear that any definite partition has been 

 formulated, either in scientific instruction 

 or in the granting of degrees in science. 

 Nowhere is there a definition of the term 

 'industrial science,' upon the exact mean- 

 ing of which these matters depend. The 

 interpretations of the term which have 

 been given to us, in so far as they make 

 matters clear, imply that the intention is 

 to consent to continued duplication in large 

 elementary courses and in some advanced 

 classes, rather than to attempt the unsound 

 and impossible separation between pure 

 and applied science. It has been explained 

 to us that the intention is to continue in 

 the Institute both instruction and the 

 granting of degrees in such branches of 

 pure science as chemistrj^, physics, geologj', 

 and biology. There is reason to believe 

 that the University contemplates the reten- 

 tion of instruction and degree-giving in all 

 these subjects, as well as the retention of 

 elementary instruction in at least some 

 branches of industrial science as College 

 electives. The University also reserves its 

 right to grant any and all degrees, in ap- 

 plied science as well as in pure science; 

 but the agreement implies that Harvard 

 degrees in applied science would hereafter 

 be granted only upon the recommendation 

 of the Faculty of the Institute. The Insti- 

 tute, on the other hand, seems to agree by 

 implication to discontinue the granting of 

 the Ph.D. degree, and of all degrees in 

 other than 'industrial science,' which, as 

 interpreted to us, is to include those 

 branches of pure science, already men- 

 tioned, in which degi*ees are at present 

 granted by the Institute. If, as would ap- 

 pear, the wording of Section XII. consti- 

 tutes an abdication on the part of the In- 

 stitute of the right to grant any degrees 

 other than those specified, Avhy should such 

 an abdication be permissible on the part 

 of the Institute when, as we are informed, 



