New-York tribune., 1903-01-26
NEEDS OF SCIENTISTS
Many Suggestions from Boards of
Carnegie Institution.
Tnr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. J

BY TELEGRAPH TO
Washington, Jan. 25--As indicativ of those lines
along which some OF the most eminent American
scientists believe their chosen sciences could best
be developed the recommenda tions of the advisory
boards Of the Carnegie Institution Of excep-
tional interest.
stituton. presents views probably novel TO
the average reader He relates the wide dis
crepancy of results obtained in an effort deter
mine what is termed the solar constant. the unit
Of heat exerted by the suns rays given sur
face in a given time. AS probable causes Of the
divergence. he cites the absorptive qualities Of
different layers Of atmosphere. which absorb both
heat from the suns rays and cold from the radia-
tions Of the earth. He hints possible varia-
ton in the power of the which. it has been
said, occurs with certain periodicity.
In view of the important effect Of the heat I'M
parted by the suns rays all life. Professor Lang
ley advocates the establishment OF two laboratories
prefeTab bly, close TO the equator, at the greatest
possible differences OF altitude and yet within sight
Of each other where. under like atmospheric and
other conditions simultaneous observations could
be taken and the variation produced by difference
Of altitude accurately recorded.
Dr. David Starr Jordan. of Leland Stanford, IT
University. urges expedition to study the cthy-
elczy Of the Pacific Ocean especially in the vicinity
Of Peru. Chilli, Patagonia. Australia China and the
Okotsk Sea and some of the Islands Of the East
Indies and Polynesia Such expedition would
make j marine biological survey similar TO that
now being conducted by the United States Fish
Commission in American waters. A similar ex-
pedtion. but confined to the tropical Pacific is rec
ommended by Dr. Louis AEassiz-
Professor c. X Gilbert. of Washington pro
poses z deep boring in plutonic rock. with a view
TO asoertainng the temperature gradients in the
earths crust.
Professor Gilbert points out that observations IN
this direction have heretofore been made only ID
mines. wells. etc. where the rock is of sedl-
mentary or deposited character, in which varia-
tions not 70 be found in putonic rock are to ne
expected These variations, due TO heterogeneous
ness Of material and different strata possessing
variable heat dirusivtty. would not be encountered
plutonic rock typical Of the earths crust as a
whole
Professor Gilbert recommends that = mass Of
great age be selected, which has not for many
geologic periods been subjected to changes and
that a boring be made therein with some instru-
rlert similar to 2 diamond drill so that the core
produced could be made the subject Of special IN
vestigation. With such d bore completed 10 4
great depth temperature observations could be
taken al numerous levels. which would contrlnlte
largely to geologic knowledge and might prove
Of inestimable value in the study OF seismic os-
Dr. George Trurnbeu Ladd, professor OF phnoso-
Pny M s m the re OF paEchoogy
First, and of paramount Importance, he places
clearing house for the interchange OF not only
partial results etc with view to keeping all
SCIENTISTS devoring themselves TO this particular
OF preventing duplication Of work, and incidentally
for exchange OF views TO netnOdS ana ClIeC-
ton OF Investigations. Carrying this idea rLrtheI
Dr. Ladd believes a workshop which would serve
a 5 headquarters should be established, and sug-
gests in addition thereto the preparation OF rooms
which could be used labOrat tories for InNestl-
gators along various lines II IS interesting 70 note
that Dr. Hugo Mansterberg. professor OF psychoi-
ogy at Harvard University, characterizes as vaIug
able. but very dangerous for the development OF
the educational life Of the whole country, ala
rendered TO individual scholars who are aCknoW4-
edged be specialists OF merit
A biological farm is the SOrevh hat unique recon-
rreudation Of DR.. Q. Q. Whitman, professor OF
zooIogy in the University Of Chicago, means
10 the study Of heredity. variation and evolution;
and Professor Roswell H. Johnson, of the Jnlver-
sity Of Wisconsin urges the establishment Of a
biological experiment station for the study Of eyo-
luton. citing support Of his project the opinion
Of DR.. David Starr Jordan. Of Leland Stanford
University. Dr. Charles B. Davenport Of the Uni
Of Chicago. also COrT1nlends the project
and suggests Cold Spring Harbor as the most ad-
Tantageous site
It is regarded as Characteristic Of the chemists
that Of all the advisory boards they alone sub
rnitted ma jority and minority report, the first
sistantships'' be established and that con1pensa-
ton and assistance be furnished 10 the appolntees
the second urging the establishment Of 'Carnegte
research professorshps,' by which professors now
zed in university work should be relieved OF
a portion Of their routine work without Pecunlary
11Gz