The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-08-26
THE IRIS NEW NJ
lord RhTLETGH,s AVID PRoF RAM
says CHEMICAL DISCOTERT.

Ir veriaed re WIN cain Them = 10000
P~rizs-Story OF r. q. Hodskin- and His
Requests rOr Atmospheric Henearch
Methods OF CIai~s ofScientIsts
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-The announcement
from London in The Sun Of last Sunday Of the
discovery " a now gas in tho atmosphere has
created much interest In scientific circles here.
Although nothing more than the mere fact has
been given TO the public. tho great reputation
Of the discovercrs, Lord Rayleigh and Prof.
Ramsay, gives crcdibility 10 even 80 extraor-
binary n statement. Nevertheless 1t lie believed
in some quarters that the many e1-
perlments In atmosphere which have taken
place within the past few years, and
the liquefaction OF the gases, which IL
no new story, would certainly have revealed, N
not the new element itself. at least some trace,
by means of which It's existence might have
been discovered. II appears from the reports
that the skeptics have no less prominent an adj
vocate than Prof. Dewar, who has made the
atmosphere and its conditions his life study.
II is impossible 10 obtain an official opinion 40
TO the validity OF the discovery at this time. A
chemist is a particularly conservative person,
and without reliable data showing the formulas
and a detailed description OF tho entire test he
Is not communicative. There was no one at the
Smithsonian Institution willing " give an opin.
ion. Prof. Langley Is In London and was present
at the meeting Of the British Association, where
he submitted to them a report OF his work In tho
development of the solar spectrum and the other
important results Of the year at the Physical
Observatory. His assistant was absent. At
tho United States Geological Survey Prof.
w. +. Hillebrand, while not willing TO give an
opinion because Of the mcagreness OF details.
thought that Prof. Dewar's skeptlcism. on ac-
count OF the possibility of its being solidlhed
carbonlc acid gas and other impurities. might
be III placed. lie said that carbonlo acid gas
was easily recognized. A test with lime water
would preclpitate calcium carbonate. But, he
said further, there might have been many rea-
sons why such u test could not have been log-
ical. 1t might have been married by many cir-
Cunstances, such as contamination by otheR
gases or some other change in the operation.
Cntl, therefore, a scientific report was given
to the public, no technical opinion could be adj
new line appears should give credence TO the re-
port. but, 1t Is possible that the gas is but an all
lotropic form OF nitrogen. released or created Ivy
1t was anusingly suggested that the English
in having an atmosphere about London In which
one could find almost anything one hunted. for,
Rayieig6 have been conducted with London air,
other countries have many reasons fol. being
skeptical. until the scientific papers publish tho
rance as TO this fact: These gentlemen
have kept the results Of their Investigations
tempting to fulfil the conditions of the Hodg.
kins,' prize, offered through the smithsonian
ture or properties OF atmospheric air.
Thomas George Hodgkins OF New York, in
sonian Institution, the Income from a part Of
which was to be devoted to :, the increase and
the nature and properties Of atmospheric air in
connection with the welfare or man. He was
CT Tnil EGF ssases IN h By .a SiEt4 manhood He in anS i. to 1850 ssS
established himself as a manufacturer Of candy
IN New York city: He was so successful that In
moved to q country place near the village
Of setsuket. on Long Island. which became
ling u purpose he had formed years before 70
further the good Of mankind, he devoted the
benevolent objects. His life was simple and his
wants but few and a small portion Of the
His sympathy and philanthropy led him TO con-
tribute largely TO the American Society for the
h hGsSTeti&F society SI tF4 fer yhs p Tnitatin e OF cruelty las
t. Animals nn hS Is s9Ns si0O Zoo 600 s e sh S6 hoy yo x.
Smithsonian Institution. stipulatins that while
the latter sum should be included with the
ORIGINAL Smithson Foundation, the income
searches and Investigations on atmospheric air
in connection with the welfare Of man;
hobby. While not educated as a scientist In his
early life, his later years were much given to
and mechanical devices. Ho believed that the
air had a 4 great influence upon the life OF man;
tuht kOou arr was lllo pElildIy bttp W -kUNu
came his life work, and before he died he had
1 1sss sH'i in sahini 81 nRiRsoy thu ! III lh!iihssF Es sasSP::
OF the Smithsonian Institution.
of November, isas. On the 31st Of March u
the following year the Smithsonian Institution
s ssn. GipSGisr the - fo fiif5Sniis' Sr he o in fu mi rance
, First-A prize Of $4,000 for a treatise em-
regard To the nature and properties of atmos-
nheric air, These properties 70 be considered In
e., not only IN regard 70 meteorology. but In
connection with hygiene, or with any depart-
ment whatever OF biological or physical knowl
Srcond-A prize of 1000 for tho most satis-
A. The known properties OF atmospheric air
considered in their relationships to research in
Of a study OF the atmosphere con-
sidersd In view Of these relationships.
B. The proper direction OF future research in
connection with the imperfections of our knowl-
edge of atmospheric air, and OF the connections
Of HAT knowledge with, other sciences.
path best calculated to lead to worthy results in
G9nnection with tue future administration OF the
Third~A prize OF s.. 900 for the best popular
treatise upon atmospheric air. its properties and
cal and mental. This essay not TO exceed
10000 words In length; U be written in simple
and 70 be suitable for publication FOR
instruction.
In addition 10 these three prizes a medal has
preh eIIanlishtu' uhuer the name OF the HodR-
kins Medal OF the Smithsonian Institution"
which Will be awarded annually, or bisnniAlly,
for important contributions 10 our knowledge OF
the nature and properties Of atmospheric afr. or
for practical applications OF our existing knowl-
of them 10 the welfare OF mankind. This
medal Is of gold, and will he accompanied By Q
duplicate impression I'm silver or bronze.
In addition to these very generous donations
special grants Of money may be, and have been,
made to specialists engaged In original tnvesti-
cations upon atmospheric air. Bur they are ex-
Ia be we!l-known men, endorsed by some
Of sciences.
Any branch ~ natural science may offer q
subject OF discussion tor the HOdgkins prizes
where this subject il related 10 ths study OF the
atmosphere in connection with the welfare Of
man. Mr.. Hodgkins showed the cAthOllcity OF his
plan by citing Eranklin's experiments in atmOs-
pheric electricity, and the work Of Paul Bert
upon tho relations Of the atmosphere 10 life. IL
Is therefore readily seen that II the recent dis
authenticated, their treatise upon the sublecI
would fall well within the meaning and Wishes
Of ne phiIagtRropist and probably f9lni the