The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-09-25
PURELY SCIENTIFICi
Are the Immediate Results of Observa-
lions OF Transits.

1T may at first seem strange that govern
ments should spend large sums of money in
the interest of sciences from which, rs far as
we know, no practical benefits can accrue"
sald Professor HOuzcan to Il LIGHT reporter
1T is pure science, | may say curiosity" he
continued, that makes us want to know the
scientific studies have preceded the most Use
fu Inventions of modern times. suppose we
take the discovery that nitrate of silver turned
black in the sun. Ii was a fact i'm science and
SO recorded and years after it was the source
of photography. But for that record the Gu
mcia obscura would not have been invented
and photography would have had no existence.
When Dr. Priestly put on record the chemistry
or gaseous matters no one thought that Il few
years after it would be the means of giving
Watts his ideas of steam. When tErSted, the
Danish MUSICIAN. was studying the electric
currents and placed his results on record who
would have thought that years after they
would give Morse and Whea stone ideas us to
the electric telegraph and the telephone?
such inventions could not have been made if
the scientific facts upon which they are based
had not been discovered and recorded. When
the Italian chemist Volta formed his electric
battery he did not know of the vast use 10
which it could be applied, but for his discnv-
cries, his scientific curiOSities, its application
could not have been made. 1t is for such
reasons that governments encourage scientific
enquiries. The discoveries made may remain
Il dead letter for years, but by and by they
produce wonderful OtfSprings The en-
couragemcnt of pure science with Il view
to future good brought about great progress in
the east one hundred years, ~ seen 10y com
parisOn of the observation of 1866 and 1869.
when the observations of the transit were
made by individuals, the government taking
but little share in sending IL few astronomers
abroad, with these of the 10Th century where
parties are sent by the different governments
to all parts of the world This shows material
change i'm action and proves that governments
appreciate the fact that the application OF pure
science puVeS the way to useful inventions.
81 will conclude by relating Il little incident
When the Belgian house first appropriated
money for this expedition the secretary for the
interior sent for me to ask about carrying the
project into execution. The first thing he said
was to write to the Belgian minister ut WASH
iugtOn asking from the American government
such assistance as might he necessary. told
him this was not Il matter of diplomacy but OF
science. 1t had no connection with politics,
finance or commerce, and the astronomers
could manage their own affairs Let this party
stand upon its own merits. | knew sufficient
of the American people to know that they
would receive us we'll and extend all necessary
cOurteSics. Then ] came. On arrival ! went
to the national observatory and received
permit for my baggage and Instruments to be
landed free of customs and inspection. Here
found the same cOurtcsieS in General Augur
and other friends who assisted me in finding II
suitable location. | have becnrCceivcd kindly
by the people. | had Il double interest in the
reception in this country, because if | had
failed the secretary of the interior would have
said ought to have had the assistance of di
plomucy. | relied upon the kindnes of the
American people, and am glad that did So