Gjmplimentary Banquet to Lwthcr Burbank 



cation in original research in Nature's laboratory. The In- 

 stitution was founded on January 28, 1902, with the liberal 

 endowment of ten millions of dollars. After a year of in- 

 vestigation by the savants of this country, and consultation 

 with the learned men of Europe, the principal features of the 

 Institution were declared to be, in the words of Mr. Carnegie, 

 "the promotion of original research as one of the most im- 

 portant of all subjects, and the discovery of the exceptional 

 man, to enable him to make his life work that work for which 

 he seems especially designed." It was in the carrying out of 

 this purpose that the Carnegie Institution came into touch 

 with Mr. Burbank, and proposed to assist him to the fullest 

 extent in his investigations, and to publish and distribute 

 the results of such investigation. 



The Trustees of the Carnegie Institution arc in a measure 

 under Carlylc's admonition, to let results speak for the In- 

 stitution, and "forbear to babble of what it is creating and 

 projecting"; and although the Institution has only been in 

 practical working operation for a little over two years, it has 

 already issued over forty important scientific publications, in- 

 cluding contributions to nearly all branches of science. It 

 may be interesting to know that a very considerable part of 

 the work of the Institution is being carried on in California 

 at this time. It may be found at our two universities and at 

 the Lick Observatorj^, solving minor problems in astronomy, 

 bibliography, engineering, mathematics, physics, and zoology. 

 In addition to investigations of this character, some projects 

 of a broader scope are in progress. The bark "Gralilee" was 

 recently dispatched from this port by the Carnegie Institu- 

 tion, on the preliminary work of a magnetic survey of the 

 Pacific ocean, which for the present will be directed to that 

 part of the ocean on the west coast and east of a direct line 



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