New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-28
SCIENCE AND PROSPERITY.

When the full text Of Sir Norman Lockyer S
presidential address before the British Assocla-
ton for the Advancement OF Science is exam
ined. his plea for amper facilities for scientinc
training will be found TO be a powerful one lie
urst compares the universities of his own coun-
try with those of the United States and Ger
many, both i'm point of numbers and endoW-
ment. and then holds the inferiority of the Brit
ish institutions largely responsible for any loss
of prestige the United Kingdom has suffered
Of late in the realm Of industry. Inasmuch as
he is able TO cite emphatic opinions to the same
general effect, uttered in 4 prophetic fashion 10y
leaders Of the two great political parties in
England. it is hardly probable that any one
there will dispute him; and his argument Ger
tainly ought TO be productive Of good
Several different elements are involved in the
conspicuous success OF n country Ike the
United States in such a competition as that
which Sir Norman has in view. Opportunities
FOR technical training in chemistry. metallurgy'
mechanical engineering and electricity are oil
prime importance Too much stress cannot be
laid upon their value But Il will not do to
overlook other forces which are at work Some
Of these like superiority in natural resources,
bring no special credit and do not call for i1ni-
tation. Others though less tangible. perhaps.
viii repay careful study. Such. for instance, is
the case with the spirit Of enterprise and alert
ness to new ideas which are characteristic OF
American manufacturers.
For most Of the contributions TO material
civilization which have been witnessed in the
last two centuries the world is indebted to still
another asent-inventive genius 1t is curious
10 recall. moreover, how little assistance has
been given by a college education to the men
who have thus wrought the greatest revolu-
tons in industry. and have by their labors so
enormously advanced popular prosperity. Watt
learned the trade Of instrument maker, and
in that capacity was afterward associated with
the University of Glasgow. Stephenson was
common stoker and later an engineer. Ark
wright began life as a barber. Bessemer as
modeller, and Faraday as a bookbinders APP
prentice Fulton and Morse were artists while
young men. Morse eventually became a pro-
fess0r in q university. but neither Of them was
trained in such an institution. Edison was
thoroughly self-made man, while Brush, who
was formally graduated at Ann ArbOr. seems
TO have been one of those rare exceptions which
prove the rule Mccormick, who did more than
anybody else 10 lower the price Of grain in
civilized lands. was n farmers boy.
Impressive as is a survey Of this sort, it does
not impair the validity of the plea for a more
general teaching of science. If these great in
ventors had enjoyed better advantages they
would have performed their work more easily
and effectively. and the world would have been
the gamer. This may have been one of the rea
sons for which Sir Norman I'm his recent adj
dress urged the ACCESSIBILITY Of creating special
facilities for research in the universities TO be
utilized by men who have already been grad
uated. Whether such provision should be made
/ by governments or by individuals is a question
/ about which wise men are sure to disagree
| Again, help may occasionally be extended with
/ propriety under other auspices than those just
! referred 70. II will be remembered that Fara-
| days historic experiments were conducted in
! the laboratories Of the Royal Institution: much
/ good will undoubtedly result from the distribu-
/ ton Of money in the United States by the Car
negie institution for the promotion Of scientific
/ investigation. The method is Of less account
/ however. than the fundamental principle. To
/ any nation that literally applies the latter a
/ large measure Of prosperity is assured.