Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-26
A TENANT PROVIDED
To Occupy the Carnegie Ii.
brary When It is Built.
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING
of the Incorporators of the Academy
of Science and Art.
SOME AIMS OF THE INSTITUTION

much enthusiasm at the Chamber of Com
merce yesterday afternoon, large number
of the promoters assisting in the events OF
the occasion.
The inner room of the Chamber was
thronged with gentlemen well known in all
paths of science and business and social cir
cles. Mr.. w. B. Negley was chosen as tenn
porary chairman, and Mr.. Charles W. Sco-
vel temporary secretary. and on motion OF
Mr.. w. L. Scaife, President of the Society
of Engineers, the charter granted by the
courts was declared accepted. Colonel E..
j. Allen moved that committee Of three be
| appointed to formulate a ticket, and he was
appointed, in conjunction with Prof. Very
and Colonel 7. P. Roberts.
During the cogitations of the committee
Dr. W. J. Holland lucidly sketched the in
ception of the academy, and described the
visit to Mr.. Carnegie, at which the plan of
federation of the numerous societies of
Pittsburg was laid before that gentleman.
His reply. that in Pittsburg's free library
plan ample provision would be made for the
housing of the various societies if brought to-
gether In one body, had furnished the incentive
for the business of the day.
AFTER TENANT.
ave are here" said Dr. Holland, 'to provide
q tenant for the magnificent accommodations
that that liberal and large-hearted gentleman
has assured to us by the appointment of
special committee to take care of us on the
Pittsburg Free Library Commission. The
presence of SO many of our associate members
4 is extremely encouraging and we shall start off
with nearly $50 members, a good income as
Surpd bright Academy
Sciences can be made a powerful factor in the
intellectual progress of this community. and its
membership is a guarantee that its "erk as an
educative agent will be well DONE"
Colonel Allen, from the Nominating Commit
tee, reported the following ticket: President,
w. ]. Holland; Vice Presidents, George A.
Macbeth, John A. Brashear; Secretary, g. 81.
Clapp: Treasurer, c. c. Mellor; Executive
Committee, three years. William Thaw, Jr., w.
L. Scaife. J. D. Shafer, James B. Scott; two
Woodwell, Charles Davis: one year, Z. 6. Mil
nor. w. S. Bell. 6. S. Orth. T. L. Hazard. The
Secretary was instructed to cast the ballot as
above. After a short discussion of the by
laws. the permanent officers succeeded, and
President Holland made an address expressive
of thanks for the honor conferred.
The President-Whatis your pleasure, gentle
Mr.. Brashear-Please request Superintendent
Follansbee to give us some oxygen.
Amid laughter the windows were opened.
Mr.. c. C. Mellor suggested that a committee to
revise the bylaws and bring them up to date be
appointed The chair appointed Messrs Mac
beth. Mellor, Brashear, shafer and Davis.
NOT THE RIGHT IDEA.
Matthew b. Riddle was called upon for few
remarks. He said that certain persons were
representing that the Academy of Arts and
Sciences was now or would be run in the inter-
ests of capitalists or wealthy bookworms,
drawing invidious distinctions against poor
people and taxpayers in moderate circum-
stances. That proposition" said Mr.. Riddle,
- stand ready to combat most emphatically.
The Academy of Arts and Sciences is designed
to be a rallyIng ground for the brain workers of
this community: The proposition that capital
is the product OF labor is wholly erroneous, to
my mind. Capital is the product of brains
labor being merely an incident. Mere force
seldom achieves anything. but its intelligent
direction achieves wonders. Not only does a
workingman of the present day get more dollars
than quarter of a century since, but they
purchase more. Why? Because there is more
of the brain figuring in the ethics of industrial
economy.
1--WE are getting along better because of
brains. Both labor and capital owe brains a
tremendous debt-one that is still due and can
never be paid. Can 1t be disputed that it is
sound proposition which says that the brains
of a community must be fostered? 1t may be
said that it is unjust to tax poor people. A mo-
ment's reflection will show that they are the
oneS-because the most numerous caSs-that
will receive the greatest benefit. There is also
the element of relaxation from other varieties
comes more active under the stimulus of study,
and the people of Pittsburg will shortly have
the best advantages within their grasp. am
certain they will improve it.
AN IMPORTANT FIELD.
~ have been accused of too much plain
speaking in this community, but cannot helm
alluding to very important field in which this
Academy can work. 1 refer to the sons of
wealthy men who are growing up in idleness
hao hnIr fnnk rar rn
necessity for an occupation from their path l
have heard expressions from agonized mothers
which lead me to think that if the Academy of
Sciences will give these young men an occupa-
tion or pursuit it will be a noble achievement
If we can't do any better, let US give them a
fad Even if it's only catching butterflies
like Friend Hollands, it would do"
There was loud applause and hearty laughter
at DIR. Riddles home-thruSt at the entomo-
logical pursuits of the President, who looked
quite prepared to do battle for insectivora
Prof. John A. Brashear, was greeted with
cheers when he arose in response to a call
from the Chair. He made a rattling speech,
punctuated with vociferous applause. He
said:
while do not differ with DR.. Riddle as to
his views in regard to the provision of en-
pluynlent for youthful minds, want to make a
special plea for the poor youths of this COM
niunity, of which was one. We must tempt
and persuade the sons of poor men within our
doors. Those who have the germ of ambition
within their breasts will need no encourage
be capable of noteworthy achievements, were
their attention aroused by scientific subjects,
must be the class of young men for wnom We
must reach out. Some OF the noblest minds l
know of are either in or from our rolling
mills and the self-educated men in this COM
munity are making RAPID strides toward
replacing the defendants of wealthy men who
are supinely consent to expend without be-
coming producer.
MUST BE OPEN TO BRAINS.
brains, whether clothed in fustian or broad
cloth. Many of us who are here have come up
from poverty, as did. and, although some of
us are not burdened by riches as yet, we are on
the right road, and the brains of Pittsburg have
made lasting impression on the world, and are
adding daily and hourly to our city's wealth and
repute.
Edison, the Wizard OF Menlo Park. He wrote
me a lengthy letter, thanking me and making
an offer to build for me, near New York, the
finest scientific laboratory in the world. He
closed by referring to my hiding myself in
Plttsburg.' Why, gentlemen. some of the
nohlest achievements in science are owed to
Pittsburg citizens. We must foster these bright
minds among u.s. and even assist our Needy praln
workers while they are investigating and expert
menting in those fields which will enhance our
wealth when perfected. Let me give you an
instance: My lensemaker is a very young man,
who was taken outof a Southside glass factory
and who had never done anything but press
glass into various shapes, and yet he is the
finest workman in the world, and to prove my
assertion l to-day forwarded package OF
optical lenses to the Colonial University of
New South Wales. There was no other place In
the known world where they could obtain those
lenses but the little shop in Allegheny.
[Cbeers.l 1t is no credit to myself. because 1
didn't make them. But IL proves that there
are hundreds of bright minds which can excel
in scientific fields if properly encouraged.
ONE OF THE PROTOTYPES.
II am a member of the Brooklyn Institute,
referred to by our president as prototype of