The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-14
The Carnegie Institution
BY FREDERIC j. HAsI<IN.

BY FREDERIC j. HAskIN.
When Andrew Carnegie--foresigh
man that he is-gave s1o.000,o00 for
the founding Of the Carnegie Institu-
ton of Washington. he did not him
self realize fully the far reaching work
II was designed to accomplish. Likewise,
to-day tho public at large has but a
vague idea OF what the institution Is
doing. Founded TO conduct, endow and
assist investigation in any department
of science, literature or art. and to
this end to cooperate with govern.
monts, universities, colleges, technical
schools, learned societies and individ-
uaIs it's chief objects, in the words of
the founder. were to secure, II pos
slble. for the United States leadership
in the DOMAIN of discovery and the uu-
liZation OF new forces for the benefit
OF mankind"
Under this broad charter, headed by
men of the largest calibre and directed
by others who are the leaders of
thought in their respective lines. the
work of the Institution has assumed
definite shape. and is now being car
ried forward as rapidly as the eXac-
lions OF patient. careful and thorough
research Will admit. The institution
vas founded In 1902, and very natur-
ally, II has taken several years to get
all of the details of the great work
into operation. Though nearly every
one of the eleven great departments
has thus far been engaged principally
in laying the foundations for the seri-
Gus work of the future. enough has
already been accomplished to give earn
est Of what may be expected. and TO
demonstrate that no other agency at
work in the whole scientific world
promises as many and as Important
results in the time to come as the in
vestigations and research under tho
auspices of the Carnegie Institution.
Generally speaking, the combined eff
fort of those who are carrying on their
work through the bounty of the insti-
tuition represents the greatest organ
lied incursion into the realms of science
ever undertaken by man.
The work of the institution has
grown so that 1t now requires practi.
cally the entire income to support the
enterprises already under way. This
growth is attested by the rapid extern
sion OF research work in all the de-
partments, and by the charging needs
of that carried on by individual inves-
tigators. What progress has been made
is only preparatory to the great work
OF the future. yet In nearly all OF its
branches the Investigations are so
fruitful and full of promise that Pres
ident Woodward is concerned over the
prospect of finding sufficient means for
the publication of results. Efforts are
being made to keep. down the expenses
OF publication by limiting the number
Of copies of each volume Issued. So
rigid have the demands become that
the usual edition of the publications
OF the institution is limited to 1000
copies, and only the leading libraries
of the world arc supplied with copies.
1t has been arranged that the public
can buy the publications of the insti-
tuition at the mere cost of publication
and transportation to purchasers.
There are eleven principal depart
| ments in the institution, Each of these
is literally provided 70 for and given am,
its Investigations. One of the most
Interesting OF these departments is
that Of botanical research. 1t has a
Tucson. Ariz. The duty of this depart
| ment is by experiment, observation and
measurement to determine the condi-
tons of growth, development, .distri-
plant life. particularly in the desert
regions Of the country. The location
is said to approximate the ideal in fur
nishing every condition of soil, climate,
elevation, etc, which affects vegeta-
ton.
One Of the most remarkable things
accomplished in the whole field of re-
search and experiment was the repro
fhs or new species of plant BY
the parent plant seeds during the Pc
riod of termination. This experiment
has such bearing on the laws of re-
full field for Investigation. and may
| lead to an entirely different conception
OF these laws.
The department. of economics and So
GEOLOGY, of which Carroll p! Wright e
the director. is doing much important
work. It's Investigations are covering
q half-dozen lines within It's province
| The most important preliminary under-
taking in the department. IS the mar
| ing of classified index of the ECONOMIC
material in tho official documents =, OF
the different States of the Union; inc
work is being done by Miss ,Ad &c Ia Ia.
The volumes covering Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont and New YORK
Rhode island and Massachusetts are
The department OF experimental evo-
luton whose director is Charles b.
Davenport, formerly Of the y University ny
plants and animals. The subject is old
but It is only recently that It's study
has risen to tho plane of the older
physical sciences; There are all sorts
to. be found at the station. which is adj
vantageously located on Long Island
The work is one that requires the ut
A most patience. since with the eNcep-
! ton. OF the smaller things endowed
year. In the case of flies they have
Ialready produced twenty generations
or more. and are making much pro-
gress In, delving. into the mysterious
laws of reproduction.
One Of the most Important works
i comes under tho control Of the depart
ment OF historical research. This dc
partment, may he said to be sort OF
clearinghouse for the dissemination
Historical investigation. Guldas have