The Lamar register., 1897-11-20


be of considerable Importance Come
OF corneif's gcoiogists were also In the
west gathering specimens from Colo
rndo.
Another party of Cornell men spent
the summer In California studying the
geological formation of that region
They took along steam launch 20
use on the mountain lakes and OBJ
tained much valuable information
about the geological history of this
region.
Though the Pacific coast has been
the scene OF greatest activity several
expeditions were at work along the
Atlantic. One OF these was sen; out
by Johns Hopkins university 20 Gather
biological and geological specimens
about the island OF Jamaica. This ex-
pedition was rich In scientific results.
but was otherwise disastrous. The
party was attacked with yellow fever,
which carried on Prof. Humphreys and
two OF the s.ldents. This was the on,y
one OF the numerous expeditions on
which there was any loss OF life The
explorers worked along the los-lyinr
svampy shores and cruised along the
inlets picking up specimens OF conssd
cradle value, but unfortunately e,-
posed themselves to the fever malaria
which they were not so we'll able 10
withstand as tho blacks whom they
employed to man their boats and dive
for specimens They were unable to
get out OF the low district before the
fever came upon them. and half the
party was pros;rated by It. A similar
expedition sent to the West Indies ny
New York university was more rortu-
nate. They were In search Of zoologi-
cal specimens. and they sneoeeded In
escaping unseashed
Prof AgassiE. OF Harvard. vent TO
South America early in the summer
with a steam launch. and spent the
season in cruising along the Amazon.
and collected many rare specimens
This brief review BIZ no means rep
rcsents the extent Of the scientific re-
search rarried on by the college far-
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 ex-
tent than those mentioned Soms Of
them have had TO do with the geologi-
cal formations OF particular sections,
others with the fauna and nora Of
similar districts All this work Ia i'm
portant and valuable. even where IT
does not attract much attention.
The midsummer excursion II dis
tinctiy musfern phase OF efucssion. and
Il ts only OF recent years tsat u has
become svneral It's importance In the
scientific field Ia coming to be thor
oughiy appreciated by leading cdu-
Gators Hitherto. most Of these expe-
ditions have been supported by the
contributions of the individual mem
bers OF the parties or by outside sSsb-
scrip;ions. but now some sf the gni-
versities are beginning to make appro-
priatlons for this purpose
Prof Henry F. Osborn. sf Columbia.
said OF this method of ssientifie re-
search The value Of these expedi-
tIons. especially az they become more
numerous. cannot be oser estimated.
II brings into general acceptance n new
and. TO my msud. true conception OF the
proper field Of a university. which fs
not snly 10 inpsrt Information. bat to
accumulate scientific knowledge by
practical research. The book OF ns-
ture is a vast folio. many pages of
which have not as yet been deciphered-
Every line spelled out by these explor-
ing parties Is so much clear gain from
the scientists poin, of view. Besides
this is the advantage In the way of
training thar comes to the younger
members of the party, and that Is set-
ter by far than mere theoretical teach