Arizona republican., 1907-05-16

| this belt are the mountain sides. very
ancient and grixzled aristOcrats. &C.
cording TO the geological blue book. A
wearing existence they have led, for
countless ages Every drop Of rain
that falls Is charged with minute guam
titles OF acid that cats into the noun
! tain rocks and keeps the process OF the
formation OF new material alive. The
frOsts too, OF the winter split bouiders
and lodges. The roots OF trees and
plants on the steep slopes contribute
their quota OF chemicals that help to
dissolve the stone beneath, and also
break IL up by mechanical action.
Considering the differences among
rocks OF one section, TO say nothing
OF the differences In the soils due to
differences In the processes OF fOrma-
ton, IL Is not strange that the scientist
who undertakes TO classify soils finds
an almost depressingly large list OF the
varieties of dirt awaiting his DISPOSE
ton. The ice alone has made mess
enough TO keep the experts guessing
for a generation or two. Through the
northern part OF the country, In very
recent times geoiogicaiiy. the creeping
glaciers from the polar regions
scratched of the tops OF hills and
mountains and deposited on the outer
rim OF their field OF operation the prod
ucts OF their incessant grinding. bould-
ers bourne for hundreds OF miles. grav-
ell hills higher than n church steepla
and immense scatterings of the fins
detritus known 60 biologists as 'lOess.'
Again. everywhere through the far
West. mountains which are very young
as compared with those patriarchs, the
Appaiachians, have already begun to
disintegrate and TO NIL valleys and
canyons with varieties OF what look 10
the layman like common and garden
dirt but which are cherished by the
scientific men as peculiarly interesting.
Not only the mechanical and mineral.
osical composition OF the particles com.
posing the different soils must be taken
into account but there are many other
factors. The study OF climatOlOgy,
Furthermore, is an essential part Of the
soil classification, because OF the In
huence OF climate upon the character |
Of the soil; that IL why the assistance |
q a mathematical expert Of the westh. |
er bureau 10 Invaluable in suca an in |
hEDASatsoss so OttuA Nptsuostsn
der the auspices Of the George Wash |
inston University. You may have two |
districts whose soils are about the |
same IN other respects. Yet the indus |
trial usefulness of each will differ from |
that Of the other because Of differences |
% climate.
Such studies ss Mr. coffey !. making !
Illustrate perfectly the point that Is |
made IN the campaign for a national |
endowment Of the George Washington |
that nowhere else In the |
world are there such opportunities for |
advanced research Wort along lines Of |
applied science as are ordered I'm |
The growth Of this SIN
gle division Of q department In the bu- |
feau OF soils In the last few years has |
given scores OF young scientific men a |
chance 60 investigate subjects OF which |
until recently very little wa. known |
In summarizing the results Of various |
Investigations upon soil. classification,
the department OF graduate studies. of |
which Professor Charles r.. Monroe |
has charge, will unquestionably have |
secured an important contribution to |
human knowledge.