The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1893-07-15
STATE CAPITOL AT MADISON,

r.
STATE CAPITOL. AT MADISON.
ent of poets and 1nodestly claims to be
the most moral state capital in the I'm
ion. However, that will be of very little
consequence to the scientists.
The association in the 43 years of its
existence has met in Washington and at
many other capitals, and as it is now
established among the noted bodies of
the learned world and the opportunity
to visit the Worlds fair counts for much
it is expected that many hundred
savants from both Americas and Europe
will be present. Of course the papers
read on special subjects will be dry to
most people, but in their hours Of re-
Taxation the learned men will see a deal
of fun. They are capable Of doing it
Justice too. Their sessions at Indian
opolis in 1880 were diversified with visits
to cities in the natural gas region, and
their meeting at Washington in 1891
gave the city almost as much entertain
ment as stormy week in congress.
Professor Joseph LIE Conte, retiring
president, is credited as a delegate to
California, but he now belongs to the
whole nation if not to the world. Els
geology is the standard textbook III
American colleges and high schools, and
he is also an authority on optics. physi-
ology and other branches Of science and
has devoted much study to aerial navi
cation and other abstruse and disputed
subjects. He is at present professor of
geology in the University Of California
The working man Of the organization,
however, is Professor Frederick Ward
Putnam, who has been permanent secre-
tary Of the association for many years
and a scientist from the time he put on
boys clothes. In truth, he was sort Of
infant prodigy in that line, and his
achievements were so remarkable that
at the age Of 16 he was admitted to mem
bership in the Essex (Mass.) institute
and only a year later was chosen its
curator of ornitholoyy and keeper Of it's
cabinet. One year later he entered the
Lawrence Scientific school, where Pro
fessor Louis Agassiz was SO pleased with
his zeal and progress that he put him in
charge Of the collection of fishes at Har-
ward, where he remained until 1868.
Born at Salem, Mass, April 16, 1880, it
is scarcely an exagyeration to say that
he has devoted So years to science, for he
began original researches as soon as he
was old enough to ralnble in the woods
and fields. He is now in charge of the
anJhropological department at the
Worlds fair.
Another working organizer is Pro
fessor H. W. Harkness Of Washington,
who is president for the year, but a com
pleted list of the scientists who are to
take part in the discussion would be too
long The association is divided into
eight sections, each having a speciality
SO far as preparation goes, but the whole
body convenes to hear the principal pa
pers read. The working membership COM
prises about 1000 persons, and among
the subjects for discussion at Madison
fore lnade-viz:
To apply to congress for reduction OF
tariff on scientific books and apparatus
to 1nemorialize congress to provide for
preserving archmologic monuments on
the public lands, to devise accurate and
| uniform methods Of water analysis, fol
| the preservation of timber lands and
! generally for the better protection OF
the public health. 1t is matter for con.
graduation that SO many Of the papers
are on subjects of great practical inn
portance, and it is especially noteworthy
that the Interests of the farmer are SC
much thought Of Indeed the American
farmer just now seems to be very much
| in it, both with scientists and politicians.
One of the great questions of the day
and incidentally for the association, is
concerning the aid which science has
given and can give to the farmer.
Charles S. Plumb in The Popular Sci
ence Monthly makes an interesting ex
hibit showing that in the item of ferti
lizers alone governments scientific ex
perts have saved for the farmers many
times the amount government has ex
pended. Nevertheless many scientists
insist th tt the farmer is now rapidly
falling behind other classes, and at the
meeting of this association for 1891 a
Washington Professor Edmund j. jaime:
Of the University Of Pennsylvania rea(
paper before the economic section
which excited much discussion. Pro
fessor James was born in 1855 at Jack
sonville, Ills, and studied in many
schools, taking the degree Of doctor O
philosophy at Halle, Germany, in 1877
an extraordinary honor for one so young
In 1883 he took the chair of public
finance and administration in the Wha1
ton school of economy. University o
Pennsylvania.
There was much surprise therefor
when he took ground in favor of th,
farmers political organizations, main
tanned that in spite Of many blnnder
they would accomplish good and broad
ly insisted that the present politico