Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-02-03
The Government and Science.


/ Government tends to become stead
ily more costly, not only in this but in
other countries. The average cost Of
the British Government is fully ten
million dollars q year more than It was
ten years ago, exclusive of war opera
tons. The expenditures of the United
/ States have increased quite as much in
/ the same time, although the interest
on the public debt has been largely re-
/ duced. But this country, at least,
/ gets much more for its money than 1t
/ did IN former times. The Govern
ment, for example, has become the
/ leading agent in gathering material for
the study Of science.
Probably there are not many people
| who realize what an amount aud Yari-
ely of work is done in the direction by
means OF public funds. Many OF the
departments in which this service is
performed have been long established,
while others are OF comparatively re-
cent foundation. The earth, the air,
the sea and the sky are studied by
most capable experts. The Govern
ment supports a geological survey to
examine the structure OF the soil and
the rocks. The surface of the earth,
the coast-lne, the tides, the coast cur
rents and the river channels are ascer-
tanned and mapped by the coast and
geodetic survey. Then there is the
weather service Of the War Depart
ment, which not only is the most per-
feet service Of the kind IN the world,
but Is providing mass of material for
the exact study of the science of me-
teorology which IS unexampled in its
amount, IN its variety and In its accu-
racy. Perhaps it would not be true to
say that the naval observatory at Wash
ingtOn does more for astronomy than
any other observatory in the country,
but its contributions to knowledge have
been great and valuable. And it pro-
vides, for nayigatOrs and astronomers,
IN the Nd1tt al AtHIlpGc what no pri-
vate institution would be likely to pro
vide, so costly is the work.
Another group of scientific depart
ments is that which comprises the Fish
Commission, the chronological Com
mission, and the Agricultural Depart
ment By these, which were estab-
hshed chiefly to furnish practical in
formation for farmers and fishermen,
an immense number of the most use
tul scientific facts are gathered and
duly arranged. Nor should We omit q
mention of the Smithsonian Institu- |
ton, Tor, although it was founded and |
endowed by private funds, all its oper- /
atlons are conducted by persons who /
are appointed by authority of the /
United States Government. Medicine, /
200 Is under great obligations to the |
liberal policy of the Government. |
Most important contributions to sur
gerry have been made in the publication /
Of the surgical records Of the civil war.
The navy too, has given and still gives |
great aid In the same direction; and |
the National Board of Health will, in /
time, solve many problems relating to |
the introduction and spread of epidemic 1
diseases.
Nor Is the scientific activity of the
Government confined to such material /
things as we have named The great
est scientific work of this decade is the |
magnificent report Of the census of |
1850. There is hardly In existence /
such body Of useful and accurate in /
formation IN reference to any country I
of the world as Is to be found in these 1
pOrtly volumes. Furthermore, the /
employs a Commissioner Of /
Labor Statist- cs, whose duty it is to .
procure and present facts concerning /
the condition of those who are em-
plOYed to work for wages. His work /
supplements that which is done in the /
several States with the same object In
view, and together they viii furnish
a noble mass of material for the social ]
Of the future to digest.
This is but a partial list of the various
forms in which the National Govern
ment Is aiding in the advancement Of
science though it includes all the most /
important branches.
There are those who think that such
matters are wholly outside the province
Of Government They would find it
very difficult to prove that the coast
survey, for instance, had not been /
Of immense service to the coun-
try; and they would only be
laughed at If they were to say that
the work Of the survey should be con-
fined strictly to mapping the coast, and
should let science alone. People in
general viii think that what has been
done IS we'll done. and that the Gov
eminent might wisely even extend its
operations in the field of science
Youths Companion.