The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-07
For the Union.
RJechanism-NO. IS.
BY JOSIAH HoLB RoOK.

BYJosIAH HOLBRoOK.
In this age OF progress practical science stands in bold
relief II is the broad. strong foundation OF suppor-the
grand centre spring of movement 10 every work of pro.
gress. First Observation-Disclosures ples"-of science
applied to human wants. used the primary lever OF
business, adopted the First Lessons" OF elementary
instruction, have already produced mighty results They
have occasioned Worlds Fair for the exhibition of
such results for the universal diffusion of such prnci.
Piles They must be thHs difused. II is the voice OF
public sentiment That is omnpo,ent. Poentates des.
potts. and tyrants it, 1t is itself the po,entae
Of all earthly powers.
The history Of practical science for the last quarter OF
century is in small degree the history OF the world
especially OF human progress in this remarkable
OF the world The sciences showing most progress are
geology and chemistry. Half century ago the word
geology not named even in our colleges. 1t hardly
had a place in dictionaries. Now il is in every
childs mouth One Of the disting professors
in one of the oldest and most distinguished American coll
Ieges remarked that when he took possession of the
chair assigned him in that institution about thirty years
since he did not know the of quartz, of any
place in the country where he could learn it. The
and character OF this professor now as wide the
science he teaches.
Another professor appointed 10 similar chair in
another disng ushed college, about the same time,
ark ed that when he took possession oil the place
signed him in the institution he did no, know that there
was more than kind Of stone IN the world, and he
did no, know the name OF that Not many years after
he produced large volume on geology and mineralcgy,
which was pronounced by the English reviewers the best
work exant on the subject IL was translated into the
French and German languages, and used in both those
countries the most substantial textbook.
In the unparalleled progress Of this highly practical,
also fascinating, science-geologyscboos have bad an
effective agency By the agency OF young hands in Bos-
on near twenty years SINCE each member of the Mas.
-. had, 1l.la
mentary cabine, of geology in behalf Of the schools
in his legislative district, by him 10 be circulated for the
benefit of the whole The next legislature ordered a
geological survey OF the State. The generous young
spirits OF Philadelphia, no, long AFTER engaged in sim
liar agency and produced like results in Pennsyvan
From these juvenile efforts came the appointments OF
President Hitchcock, OF Amherst College, and Pro-
lessor Rodgers, Of Pennsylvania, the geologiss OF
their respective States By both these gentlemen lee
lures have been given before the Smithsonian Insttu
ton The geological surveys of other States, by legits-
tive enacments followed in quick succession, leading 10
scientific explorations OF nearly every State in the Union,
with others on a more extended SCALE under the pro-
visions OF our national legislature For combining the
efforts and enhchng the fruits produced by State and
ona geoogIsts they organized themselves into soci-
ETY. for the mutual aid Of themselves and the common
benefit OF the country and OF science Under the law OF
progress, this little club OF biologists has, by various
steps, advanced and enlarged into The AMERrcAN Asso-
CATION TIE PROMOTION or SCIENCE" embracing
large numbers OF scientific coming up in the course
of this progress, holding annual and semi annual
meetings. very largely attended, in different and distant
parts oil country, making special aim to cooperate
with kindred societies in other countries Ii is due to the
generous young spirits Of Washington the heart Of the
nation 10 mention that offerings kindred to those rem
dered patriotism and to science, by the noble
referred TO in Boston and Philadelphia, for Massachu
ses and Pennsy have recently been made and are
now making by them for American citizens and the
worlds progress. With them progress is the watchword
ExPsR,MESr.-Some twelve years since the pupils OF
female seminary, in country town in Massachusetts
sent similar institution IN Georgia box OF com mon
stones picked up in their streets. Within year or two
after that the Georgia school had one side OF their
room large handsome glass case, labelled in gold,
/" MrSERAL CABINET" filed with choice specimens Ga
another side Of the similar case label.
led BorAsIcAt CABINET" richly furnished with plants
Another similar labelled +" LIBRARY" with a
good selection 81 books This school was then in
scientific correspondence in different States The
whole produced BY j" bor Of common sfonss'