The Washington times., 1894-11-26
OUR PROGRESS IN SCIENCE
What America Has Done to Advance
the Worlds knowledge.
PAPER By PROF. G. B. GOODE
Great Activity in Astronomical, Physical,
and chronological Research-Promising
Fields for Future Scientists Geology, in
Prof Goodies Opinion, the Coming Science.
20. G. Brown GoOde, Of the Smithsonian

Prof G. Brown Goode, Of the Smithsonian
Institution. read a paper before the Philo-
sophical Society Saturday evening on ''What
has been done for science in America"
The main purpose of Prof. Goodies paper,
TO quote his own language, was ''to present
one phase, and that, perhaps, not the least
characteristic, OF the intellectual activity Of
America: to consider the advances made in
science during the last four centuries; to re-
view the names and deeds Of those who have
contributed to this advance in each field OF
special research, and to discuss the history
and tendencies Of the institutions which have
been established for the promotion of scien-
tihc progress.
Astronomy was the first of the physical
sciences to attract attention in the American
colonies Astronomical stations have in
or eased rapidly in number and recent list
shows 100 of them well equipped and many
endowed for research work. One of the most
important incidental contributions america
to astronomy has been the development of the
large refracting telescope.
In physics Franklin was our earliest
worker To Benjamin Thompson Count
Rumford) the world owes the doctrine Of the
correlation of forces, one of the grandest gen.
eralizations in the history OF cence. Out of
Henry's electrical discoveries have grown in
America many practical applications of the
highest moment-the telegraph itself, duplex
telegraphy, quadruplex and multiplex telegra-
ply. the harmonic teIegraphv, the telephone
and the iDcandescent light among them, as
well as the electro magnetic motor applied in
the construction of an electromagnetic rail-
way near Washington by DR. Page in 1851
''MeteOrology may almost be claimed as a
new world science. The story of the devel-
opment of the Weather Bureau, the evolution
OF the weather map, and the progress of the
telegraphic prediction. is well known to all
"A somewhat careful examination OF the
geological reports and periodicals of the last
few years has impressed me with the thought
that geology Is the coming science in Amer
lea. Scores Of men well trained in advanced
methods, vigorous in intellect. many Of them
young and full Of enthusiasm, are graphing
with the great problems which our continent
affords, with vim which promises wonder
ful results.
In paleontology America has perhaps
been able to contribute the most that is novel.
The most remarkable have been the revela-
tions Of the great plains. the remains of the
giant reptiles, the toothed BIRDS and all the
long series of extinct mammals showing the
ancestry. backto exceedingly remote periods.
of the horse the rhinoceros, the camel, and
other modern forms.
The argument for development derived
from paleontology against the peculiar form
OF the theory Of evolution associated with the
name OF Weismann. have been brought for
ward so strongly here that the name of the
American school has even been used to des-
ignate our thinkers upon the subject.
The study of our native races dates back
to the days OF the earliest explorers and COL
onlsts. For four centuries scarce a year has
gone by in which the mass of facts concerning
them has not been added 10 by some explorer
pioneer, missionary. soldier, or antiouary.
The work of Americans in economic sci
ence, statistics, sociology, mechanical science.
and engineering, and in other departments of
applied science cannot even be spoken of
but in all these departments advances had
been made, and the improvements which have
been begun in other parts of the world have
been eagerly received and put into effect bv
our countrymen."