The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-23
ron 4 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE.
A Scheme for Consoiidatine the Govern
uenrs Scientinc Burenur.


uenrs Scientino Bureaus.
In an article in Science for Jan. 10 Charles
w. Dabney. Jr.. Assistant Secretary Of Agri-
culture, gives q summary Of the work Of the
Governments scientific bureaus and It's cost,
and makes an argument for their consollda-
tion into one department.. He shows that, omit
ting all the bureaus charged with purely ex-
eoutive business, like the chemical Laboratory
of the Revenue ONCE, the Government schools
and the testing laboratories OF the War and
Navy Departments, The United States supports
twenty eight scientific or economic bureaus,
at . coat of nearly 100000 annually. They
employ over 5000 persons.
These bureaus are engaged in various lines
Of investigation for the promotion Of science,
from determining the movements Of the heav-
emily bodies to studying insects and bacteria.
There are bureaus for studying the earth and
its products. the atmosphere and its changes.
economic plants and.their culture. domestic
animals and their kind. There are surveys
for measuring the land of the country and
DS ali In. proSSn, f1 tbas
the people. and statistical agencies for collect
Ing: compilin T. and discussing tho results of
ment stations for developing the pro.ncts of
the land. and a Fish Commission for increas-
III and ss So of the
forests. or how to save the forage resources OF
the Western plains; eth others promote fruit
culture or teach how 10 protect crops and fruits
from injuriou! insects or disease. Finally.
there are great mnseums. for collecting. pre-.
serving, and exhibiting all objects Of art. eth
nology. natural history. inineraioqy, geology,
the resources, Of the country. and the products
e e: SsS. :sS:
most unique feature Of our Government and
resent tho trus American idea. II 10 the more
TO be regretted, therefore. that this grand idea.
so we'll established In our lsss. 10 not ade-
luately represented In the organization OF the
All these asenoe. hsv. = common purpose,
the country. and one might expect to Ind
them organised according TO some definite
n ss s9s e sS.s .s BY .I ass ss
fcrent departments OF the Government, two
OF them being entirely Independent.
done by these bureaus. but Mr.. Dabney thinks
that great deal more would 10 nc som plshed
these bureaus having this common purpose
were consolidated into one department Scat
tered as they now are through all the depart
and super yised BY different secretaries. usually
not scientific men and always oyerrun with
confusion and duplication OF work and conso.
quent loss OF time and energy. Tho Govern
men: has. for example. three separate and dis
country, connected with two different depart |
ments: four separate photographic Offices for
in four different dep,rtmsnts. and Sye tas ser.
s s chemical laboratories In the city 9f
%ins sSo sGnS @c. sGsn'rs If. ,ss:H
Of the natural resources and products OF the
country are collected by eight different
ments and bureaus, not counting the census.
which usually gees over the whole field again.
discredit IN which Government statistics are
too often held By business men. Mr.. Dabney,
therefore, approves OF the plan TO consolidate
NIL "a n n md aNaI1 ta1.
manent census. which shall do on u systematic
plan through ten years the work hitherto done
In a haphazard way at Intervals.
MIR. Dabney gives the following illustration
OF the confusion in which important work Is
sit"n involved ,S SmGns 50 bureaus The
board TO compile the laws on Irrigation. ind
should do, and make . report thereon. II took
this board q rear to inform .hese two secrs::
them. Its report shows that eight bureau. IN
tho two departments must cooperate In order
to accomplish any thorenrh work on tho great
pf the Interior Department alone are engaged
In irrigation work. viz, til, General Land
3soiSSea survey The las, census ALSO Ssa p ane
bureau apd the Divisions Of Soils and yezeta-
nspt Of xsrieultprs should assst IN these irri-
cation investigations
the Government, aud that tho only way TO nc
@ sna Is Sy : Ssrss all
head. When this has been done tho reorgan- |
lxation would take p,ace naturally and easily.
Mr.. Dabney's suggestion 10 partially to re-
organize several of these departments so ~ to |
put all the executive business together and all |
the scientific WORK together In n single depart. |
ment. In conclusion. tho writer gays:
1t Is really wonder that our Government |
has accomplished so much excellent scien sinc |
work through the agency OF so uuscientifc an |
examination. BY an enormous expenditure |
of time and money l: has done a vast deal for |
tho advancement OF science. but IL 10 dcplora- |
BILE that 30 much has been wasted In doing |
this. Science Is conducting In America q |
grand campaign for the Arrangement of civ. |
many camps that II does not win half the vie. |
tories IL should. What Is needed Is an organ |
IL In La