The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-10-24

ton men were in the party that scaled
the lofty rock in New Mexico known as
the Mesa TO search for the remnants of
the ancient Aztec city that is supposed
/ TO have been located there This expe-
ditio- was more successful than the
previous exploring party that went out
to thsS same place two seasons aEo.
They found many evidences that a city
once existed in this inaccessible spot
and the results of their journey when
worked out are likely 80 be of consid-
cradle Importance. Some of GOrneil's
biologists were also at work in the
west gathering specimens from Colo
rado
Another party Of Cornell men spent
the summer in the Catskilis studying
the geological formation of that region.
They took along a steam launch to use
on the mountain lakes and obtained
much valuable information about the
geologic history of this region.
JOHNS HOPKINS STUDENTS.
Though the Pacific coast has been the
scene of greatest activity several expe-
ditions were at work along the Atlantic.
One OF these was sent out by Johns
Hopkins university to gather biological
| and geological specimens about the
island of Jamaica This expedition was
rich in scientific results, but was other
wise disastrous. The party was at
tackled With yellow fever which carried
! off Professor Humphreys and two of
the students. This Vas the only one
of the numerous expeditions on which
there was any loss Of life. The eSpIor-
erS worked along the loW-lying sWampy
shores and cruiSed along the inletS
picking I'D specimens OF considerable
value, but unfortunately exposed them
selves to the fever malaria which they
! the blacks, whom they employed to
man their boats and dive for specimens.
They were unable to set out of the low
! district before the fever came upon
them, and half the party was pros
trated by it, A similar expedition sent
to the West Indies by the New York
! university was more fortunate. They
we're in search of geological specimens.
and they succeeded in escaping I'm
! scathed.
PROF AGASSIZ IN SOUTH AMER
ICA.
Professor Agassiz of Harvard went
to South America in the early summer
with a steam launch and spent the sea-
son in cruising along the Amazon, and
| has collected many rare specimens.
This brief review by no means rep
/ resents the extent of the scientific re-
search carried on by the colleges dur
| ing the period supposed TO be devoted
( TO rest and recreation Many of the
other institutions have been engaged in
! researches more local in their extent
than those mentioned. Some of them
have had to do with the geological for
nations of particular sections. others
with the fauna and flora of ssinilar
districts. All this work is important
and valuable, even where it does not
attract much attention.
The midsummer excursion is d dis
tiuctly modern phase of education, and
ii is only of recent years that it has
become general. Its Importance in the
scientific field is coming to be thor
oughly appreciated by leading educat-
ors. Hitherto most of these expeditions
have been supported by the contribu-
tons of the individual members of the
parties or by outside subscriptions, but
now some Of the universities are be-
ginning to make appropriations for this
purpose.
Professor Henry e. Osborn of Colum-
bia said of this method Of scientific re
search: THE value Of these expetli-
tons especially as they become more
numerous, cannot be oVerestimated- 1t
brings into general acceptance new
and, 10 my mind. true conception Of
the proper need OF q university. which
IS not only to impart Information, but
to accumulate scientific knowledge by
practical research. The book of nature
is 4 vast folio, many pages of which
have not as yet been deciphered. Every
line spelled out by these exploring par
ties is so much clear gain from the
scientists point of view Besides. this
is the advantage in the way of train
ing that comes to the younger members
Of the party. and that is better by far
than mere theoretical teaching"