BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-15
Scientific Work 0l The Government

President Roosevelt's suggestion in his
message that the scientific bureaus Of the
government be transferred to the Depart
meat Of Agriculture has bean given addition.
al force by the organization Of the national
university endowed by Mr. Carnegie. One
of the principal eEds to be served by Mr.
Oarnegie's gift is the utilization Of govern
ment research and facilities, and to put
these facilities within the reach Of students
it ID absolutely necessary that some oder be
brought ont of the present chaotic condition
Of the governments technical bureaus.
The scientific work of the government is
now widely diffused through slLost every
department, the present arrangement being
largely 4 matter o: change. Each new bu-
reau created has been attached to the depart
ment which at that time happened also to
he the most recently organized. For exam
pie, the Coast and Geodetie Survey, the old
est scientific bureas, were attached when or
gsuized for government work TAe Geological
Survey was attached wken organized to the
Department of the Interior, sehich at the
time was the youngest branch. The gOvera
meue Dow has fourteen technical or scientific
bureaus The secretary OF the treasury has
jurisd,ction over the Bareau Of Statistics
and Life Saving Service, the Coast and
Geodssic Survey and the Marine Hospital
Services. TAe secretary Of the navy has
under his care the Naval Observatory, the
Nautical Almsrac and the Museum OF Hy-
giene. The secretary Of the interior hm
Jurisdiction over the Bureau OF Education,
the Geological Survey snd the Census Or
doe Not connected with anv department
are the Bursau of Labor. the Fish Commis-
sion, tho Board of Geographical Names and
the Bureau OF Standards.
A curious example Of this arbitrary divi-
sion Of work 10 shown in the case of The
Coast and 9eodetic Survey, which 10 under
the Treasury Department, and the Geologi-
cal Survey, which ID uuder the Department
Of the Interior. The Coast Survey makes
maps of the coast and determines points in
the interior Of the country. The Geological
Survey begins at these points aud finishes
the Topographic mapping. II the personal
relations between the heads of these bureaus
happens to be cordial, a. they are at present,
close cooperation results otherwise there 10
friction and duplication Of work: The foress
try work of the government, ss pointed ont
BY the President In hs message, is widely
scattered and should in all reason be conso-
lidated in the one bureau now represented
BY Mr. Clifford Pinchot of the Department
Of Agriculture.
TIE irrigation investigations, begun in |
1888 by the Geological Survey and no,e
carried on from the standpoint Of national I
interest in the matter are duplicated, in |
part, in the Department Of Agriculture, |
largely from point OF local interest. The
original intention was to let the work Ct the |
Geological Survey end at the Investigation
of water supply, and for the Agricultural
Experiment Station Bureau to study the
application Of the water to the crops, but
owing to there being no eficial connection
between the two bureaus there has been
little or no harmony in the work. Iii
conld be directed BY one officer, says the
secretary of agriculture, there would be no
confiict. =
The statistical work Of the government is
inpllsated in part BY the statistical bureaUs|
If the Treasury, the Department of Agricul.l /.
are and the Census. The worS Of the
after, being st present. temporary, ID mot
with existing and permanent
bureaus, and new men are being trained to
epeat the work already done BY men in
government employ in other departments.
Tue isork of these scientific bureaus re. Z
resents national appropriation Of over
q, 900 900. The Department Of Agricul-
ure, represented BY en- important position
q the cabinet and BY work of tremendous G
Importance to the greatest industry of this q