New-York tribune., 1907-01-10
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION
Fifth Annual Year Book Tells of
Progress an Research Work.


Progress IN Research Work.
The work of the Carnegie Institution during
the last year, and It's projects for 1907. fully
set forth in the fifth annual Year Book"
issued to-day. The magnitude OF the undertake
lngs OF the institution in scientific research is
indicated by the appropriation for 1907. amount
Ing in all to S661 800. of which only $4,000 Is
set aside for expenses Of administration.
The report of the president. Dr. Robert S.
Woodward, briefly reviews the progress of the
various departments and of the special invest-
gators, and is supplemented by the separate re-
ports in Investigations and projects. many of
which elaborately illustrated. Dr. Wood
ward devotes portion of his report to con-
stderation of the scope OF the institution, and the
direction in which its energies may be most eff
fectively exerted. He recommends that the re-
sources OF the institution be chiefly concentrated
the furtherance of Investigations which, by
reason of their expense or magnitude, are not
likely to be carried to completion in other ways.
and that minor projects be aided only when
they can be carried on by investigators of known
competence; that such investigators become for
the time being affiliated with the institution. and
that they be designated as research associates
He adds:
In many cases within the experience of the insti-
tenn of small grants sort of lottery: involving
neither credit TO nor responsibility from either party
is inevitable. however. in the formative stages or
search Institution and an educational institution is
not yet clearly defined that contemporary so
mosynary function which is being slowly eliminated
from the latter
In consonance with this policy the valuable
work of the Solar Observatory at Mount Will
son. California has been recognized by ap
preparation of $15OO0O, which will cover the cost
14 <I,A t,,oN,
now rapidly approaching completion. DR.. George
E Hale, the director of the observatory, also
makes the gratifying announcement of gift of
$4,000 by John d. Hooker. OF Los Angeles, to
meet the cost of mirror OF 100 inches aperture
and so feet focal length. for a great rejecting
telescope. DR.. Hale states that. although the
glass that must be cast in a single piece to fur
nish the disk for the proposed reflector will
weigh more than four and one-half TONS he
believes that the operation can be successfully
accomplished, and that Mr.. Ritchey, who has
had charge of the grinding of the 6O-inch
hector, will be able to produce the perfect para
boidal figure required. The infntude of care
and exactness involved in the making of such
reflector is thus interestingly set forth by DR..
Hale:
The work Of polishing and figuring the Oo-inch
lStS has progressed almost TO completion. AS the
TO
avoid danger from scratches changes of figure due
to temperature variation, etc, much time
chinery and appliances Of the optical shop The
Win d6e fas easS shne a stands m
vent the admission OF dust on account OF the
the cooler months an automatlc heater, was in,
the room at practically constant temperature. The
air is filtered before Il enters the room, the walls
above the grinding machine the foor is Eept wet
during the polishing and various other precautions
have proved most successfu and the perfect pol
sired An important development Of the 70 year e has
Seen ne perfection OF method OF psTaboiizins by
necessity OF any hand work. Thanks TO this method
short time.
In the department OF botanical research spe-
cial attention has been paid TO the extension
and development OF the investigation OF prob
lens which might be attacked 10 greatest ad-
vantage in connection with tho Desert Botanl-
cal Laboratory at Tucson. Ariz These include
the study Of the highly specialized desert fora
of the Salton Basin. believed to be OF fairly re-
cent origin, owing to the apparent submergence
Of the region in comparatively late geological
periods. The flooding OF the basin by the COL
oradO River Will not unfavorably affect the work
OF the Investigators. There still, and likely
TO be, large areas not affected by the inundation
while the gradual subsidence of the present
"Salton Sea" when the river is successfully con-
fined TO its former channel will afford expert
mental conditions n large scale OF the re-
vegetation by xcrophytic plants OF a submerged
area while the altered conditions Of
fered by the diversion of the water in the delta
lands will yield results of great value as to dis
tribution'
In the department Of historical research.
under DR.. J. Franklin Jameson. the principal
work carried on is in the primary, fundamental
ard costly tasks Of finding the materials or
guiding men to them. and of printing such of
them as are imprinted and most deserve print
selecting those that are likely TO give the great
est possible aid and Indictment to the produc-
tion Of good monographs in important fields"
A noteworthy accomplishment has been the pub
licaton OF a guide to the archives Of the govern
ment at Washington.
The publications OF the institution during
1906 aggregate nineteen volumes. with a total
of 4, ,454 pages. issued at a cost Of $42.491 19
pENcInNS EOP pROEEScORS