New-York tribune., 1902-09-07
DR MATTHEWS PROTESTS.
-,,1>us CARNEGIE INSTITUTE SHOULD
AID. But NOT ABSORB. THE WOODS
HOLE LABORATORY.

rb. researches made at the Woods Hole
r,.ss) laboratory by represa antatiVes OF many
of the leading educational institutions OF lhe
ITnitas STATES have attracted the attention OF !
,,o scientific world and brought the Iabora-
tory prominently into the public eye.
There is nothing architecturally StrlkihS
sho1,t the place ana the startling ulScoNtIIsS
relative TO the subtle problem OF NE Ntle
made in three modest wooden huliGlnSS pS
tbe water side The fifteenth annual SeSSi"n !
Of the Marine biological Laboratory closed on
August 22 The men who worked there ana
wbose reports have caused wide comment were
hanlpered 10y insufficient means and slGhl
ea2.iplaent and the encouragement TeeeiNeN
mas of \ nature which would have danpeneu
fro ar8or of less sincere ami enthusiastic men
IF learning TO control steam and electricity
sold an officer of the laboratory. has meant 50
much TO the human family. what WIA Il mean
to control life ITSELF"
They look toward the time when scieh'e "-H
demonstrate that life is purely matter o'
chemistry or of mechanics.
Many people who had become interested in the
work done at Woods Hole and who were a1nbl-
0ous TO the laboratory enlars d and become
fhe most important in the world were greatly
pleased when it became known that it would
become part of the Carnegie Institution. The
make it the nucleus of the new and enlarged
and perfected laboratory.
1t seems however that the project is not
fndorsed by all the men who have labored at
Woods Hole and who have contributed to win
for the place its enViable position in the realm
Of science DIR. Albert Z. Mathews. professor
of physiological chemistry at the University of
Chicago and a member of the instrucung
class at Woods Hole. says. III a letter TO The
Tribune:
The policy of the Carnegie Institution is of
such Importance to the sce4-tific lie. and there
by the welfare of the country, that the step
recently taken toward the acquisition OF the
property of the Marine Biological Laboratory
al Moods Hole recorded in The Tribune OF
the 24th inst, is Of great interest.
While there Is no disagreement on the de-
sir bIty of aiding the Woods Hole laboratory,
there is a difference of opinion whether the
plan suggested is the best one. Although tndt
laboratory has had the slender income OF some
$500 year, il has yet made for Itself a wide |
reputation. 1t has produced more good work |
than any other biological laboratory in the |
world in the same time. with the possible ex- |
ce2tion of the Naples station Nowhere else, |
Certainly has SO much been done with so small |
an expenditure OF money The corporation OF |
the laboratory. which consists Of a large num- |
Der Of men and women interested in biology, |
has III its fifteen years OF existence acquired |
about S15Ut0 worth Of property but is at pres |
ent about Al0.OJ0 in debt, the running eX- |
penses have regularly slightly exceeded the in |
cured with so meagre an outlay have been |
largely owing TO the self-saCTifice, the broad |
minded policy and the remarkable personality |
of the director, Professor c. o Whitman. 1t is |
clear, then that the laboratory does not come /
TO the institution penni.ess. and that the bene-
fits are not all on one side. So far from the |
Carnegie Institution enGoWing the Marine Labo-
rdtoTy, it is rather the Marine Laboratory
which endOWs with its prestige, its enthusiasm
and its achievements in science the Carnegie |
Institution.
II was proposed to the corporation that they
Should deed tn Marine Laboratory to the Car
negie Institution, he latter agreeing to con-
stFuct new buildings. acquire land and provide |
SZt,0e1 year for running expenses. BY this
transfer the laboratory gains certain amount |
Of money, better buildings and equipment, and
ats debts paiS. on the other hand. it
loses its control Of the future, it turns over to
the Carnegie Institution about $1,000 worth Of
land and buildings. and having become de-
partrnent OF that Institution. it cannot expect
10 receive aId from other sources. Twenty thou
sand dollars a year is not sufficient for the
laboratory if It's IS kept open throughout the |
year. as IS contemplated. it already costs
about SioVb to keep il open for three months.
Ihe SALARIES of the staff at the Naples Zoologi-
cal Station amount to about $4,000 u year; to /
Secure similar services in this country would |
require at least double that amount. II the /
laboratory retains its independence, but re-
ceFes aid from the Carnegie Institution. 1t /
nay confidently hope TO receive assistance from
Uther sources and can continue its own de-
seiopInent but once it becomes a department OF
ne carnegie Institution other aid will largely
cedSe' afo ats development must conform to the
pans made by the Carnegie trusteea