Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-17
A DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE.
DR.. ShufeIdf's Proposition to Establish
q New Department.
HOW, He THINKS, ALL THE SCIENTIFIC WORK
MIGHT BE CONSoLIDATED-A GREAT BUILD
ING WITH OFFICES AND LABORATORIES sUG-
GESTEn

DR.. R. w. shufe!dt, of this city, has written
for "Mind in Nature an interesting discussion
Of the topic Science and the State" in which
he advocates the establishment by the govern
ment in this city of a new executive depart
ment, to be known as the department Of
science. After a general discussion of the
topic he says that in bringing this matter more
directly TO our own doors, little need be said upon
the present organization of the scientific bur-
eaus OF this government as found at the capital,
If the heterogeneous assemblage of the various
divisions SO called, are entitled to the name.
A GREAT BUILDING PROPOSED.
He urges that harmony and economy require
the consolidation of the scientific work of the
government, and saws:
ITO this end, the country should appropriate
at as an early a day rs practicable, sufficient
building of size necessary to contain all the
sclent1fc organizations, and capable of being
symmetricaly enlarged
This structure should be erected somewhere
In the nelghborhoOd of the present group of
buildings, of which the Smithsonian insiitu-
ton and the Department of Agriculture are
two. Its plan should he SO modified as to
utilize all these buildings we'll as to meet
the other ends in view. Moreover, it should be
tne ann TO have it contain more particularly
the administrative heads of the various depart
mentS, aud the museums. Separate laborato-
,es r0uid iorm other parts of the group while
ate neighbOrhoOd should be devoted TO the
present government libraries, including the
library OF Congress. and a distinct bureau OF
printing and engraving, fully equipped to per-
form all such work as the scientific department
demanded. Few people know bow much the
proper and prompt appearance of scientific
publications are now hindered and retarded in
their appearance by the general printing for
tne government. All OF this Is perfectly prac-
ticable and could be worked out i'm detail by a
Weli-cnosen commission of architects and
scientists.
Even il two million of money were appropri-
ated by Congress TO start such
A DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE
on proper basis Ii would be as nothing in COM
parison with the benefits that would immedi-
ately flow from the organization-a national
credit, an enormous saving and economy and a
powerful stimulus to the education aud pro-
gress OF the country. The head OF this depart
ment should be a cabinet officer designated as
me secretary of science and chosen from the
Natlonal Academy of Sciences. To this depart
ment should be relegated ali the present exist
ing bureaus that properly belong TO il, with one
approprio ton made tor the whole, and then its
scientific corps subdivided into the following
eleven sections: Agriculture, biology, chemis-
Try, education, ethnoiogy, geology, geodesy and
surveys, meteorology, military and civil engi-
neer1ng, sanitary science industries. These
should be presided over by their several chic. S,
and the work that would deyolve upon them is
sufficiently well Indicated by their titles. Sec
ton eight would include the present weather
bureau and signal office. Section ten the mill
tary museum OF medicine and all that relates
10 sanitary science in its widest sense"
The effect of the present condition of the laws.
Dr. SnuieIdt claims. has resulted in the loss To
the government OF the services OF some of the
most talented men which cur civilization has
produced. The designations OF the Gorringes
the Schwatias, the Coues, and a host OF Diners
attest to this
WASHINGTON AS A SCIENTIFIC CENTER.
In conclusion he says: THE plan here offered
essentially refers to a Encouragement of state
OF affairs that already exists, and TO any i'm
mediate increase OF scientific bureaus. In fact
TINS Encouragement viii prove in the sequel OF
great economy in ~ branch of the Government
which any 1air-ninded person, familiar with
the present state oi things, must see, needs re-
organizing. j am aware that there are those
who believe that any organization of these
bureaus threatens this country with a 'centrali-
cation of science at Washington. Now the
limits OF this paper will not permit me TO fully
discuss this side Of the question, but we have
nothing whatever TO dread in that direction
though W ashington may become, in spite of US
all, one OF our greatest scientific centres"