The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-09
Decentralization in Science"

Under the caption "Decentralization in
Science" q late No. OF Nature treats at
length of the growing tendency towards
the multiplication OF scientific bodies in
Great Britain, and presents some points
that are very suggestive to those interested
in scientific pursuits in this country.
While fully recognizing that "the rapid
growth Of widespread and general in
terest in and sympathy with such pursuits
in the kingdom is source OF qualification"
Nature regrets that decentralization is
weakening the influence Of the mother
bodies, in London especially. AS one eX-
ample Of what it means it says: "Of course
the Royal Society has always stood, and
will always stand, alone, without rival.
But such society as the Geological has
competitors all over the country, which,
though they may not be individually
formidable, yet collectively withdraw not
little energy which otherwise would have
gone to recruit the parent society,""
But while decentralization in science I"
Gi it may properly be so called and the
conditions which have led to it are con-
sidered an evil in England from Natures
standpoint, they are the very things that
are needed in this country to give an i'm
petus to all branches of scientific pursuits.
| In alluding to local societies Nature does
not refer merely to organizations in pro-
vincial cities, but TO Geld-clubs and socie-
ties that have sprung up all over the coun-
try, some of which, beginning to meet for
gossip and an occasional days "outing,"
now support publications which have con.
tributed valuable material to scientific lit.
erature. Local esprit de corps has stimu.
lated original observation, and the flors
fauna and geology of the locality have
received an amount Of attention thai
would hardly have been accorded then
from "parent society" il they had no
presented some very distinctive features
In this country, and in the South par
ticularly, there is an almost unlimited fielC
open to the Investigations OF local club
and organizations almost unlimited boil
as to extent of territory and the phases O
scientific study that may be profitabl
pursued in 1t. The fields, the forests, tn
streams, the beds Of the streams, the hill
sides. are teeming with testimony whic
would be valuable to the scientific world
and only awaits collection. In the depart
ments Of archaeology and paleontolog
there have already been startling develop
! ments in Virginia and North Carolina
yet it is safe to say that we are not out O
our hornbook touching our wealth il
these particulars.
And we never shall get much farthe
until we learn to pursue different method
!, and cultivate more self-reliance; until W
= learn to build by original observation upo
whatever OF theoretical science we ma
have acquired; until we learn that til
!. authorities OF the few museums scattere
h here and there throughout the country i
= the larger cities are not iniallible and begi
! TO understand that 1t Is not treason to star
= new hypothesis and challenge old ones
n In short, we can hardly expect TO max
It any appreciable progress in scientifi
b research until we break up the tendenc
!, to Capitalization in science, as illustrate
" in the effort to secure the seal Of the Smith
: sonian Institute, for instance, on ever
"fnd."
/ There is, however, no reason why w
e may not by beginning where the Eng
n lish begsn-by encouraging "decentraI
Z ization awaken a widespread interes
, in scientific pursuits in nearly ever
1 community in the South, and make i'm
' portant contributions to the genera
5 fund Of scientific knowledge. 1t is not
as Is popularity supposed. prerequisite
TO the pursuit Of scientific investigation,
that man should be professions
> scientist. In England some OF the most sue
/ cessfu scientific investigators and writer
are men OF business, with whom science /,
! q recreation to great extent. Tn,
| samescan be made the case here, but Tn,
nrst step to be taken Is local organization
no matter on how small scale. No
only should every college and uni
yersity have Its museum Of loca