Evening star., 1909-04-27
CONVENTION HALL INDORSED
SCIENTISTS FAVOR WASHING.
TON MEMORIAL PROJECT.
Action Taken by National Academy
Of Science and Washington
Academy.

The George Washington Memorial AS
sociation is planning a convention hall
for Washington that shall be sufficient
to accommodate the various scientific So
cieties that meet here.
The Smithsonian Institution, the Ma
tional Academy Of Science, the Washing
ton Academy of Sciences and sixteen af-
filiated societies are all interested in the
movement. The association has perma-
nent fund of $4,000 and $1,000 for ex-
penses-
At a recent meeting the association
elected Mrs. Susan Whitney Dimock. of
New York. president, and the following
advisory council has been appointed: ::
Elihu Root, Ira Remsen, H. Fairfield
Osborn Horace Porter. Charles j. Dab
ney, DIR. Charles d. Walcott and Charles
j. Bell.
States to Be Canvassed.
There will now be chairmen appointed
for each of the states. Contributions will
be solicited all over the country.
The association has sent out a circu-
lar outlining its plans. The new building
is to be an attractive structure, we'll To-
Gated and capable of housing all of the
local scientific bodies at their various
meetings and taking care of any big
outside scientific bodies, like the Tuber-
culosis Congress, that want to meet in
Washington.
Possibly one of the first large scientific
bodies that will need to be taken care OF
is the International Congress of Water
way Engineers that is to be invited by
Congress to meet in this country.
Washington Academy Approves.
Following the Endorsement given at it's
last meeting by the National Academy
of Sciences to the George Washington
Memorial Association Hall project, the
Washington Academy at a recent meet
ing passed resolutions expressing its ap-
proval and appointing a special commit
tee to cooperate in the movement by
all practical methods, and recommending
to each of the affiliated societies the ap-
pointment of similar committee to act
with the committee of the academy.
At the meeting of the National Academy
of Sciences April q Secretary Walcott
explained that there is no more room in
the Smithsonian Institution building,
where the National Academy, the Ameri-
can Association for the Advancement of
Science and the American Historical AS
sociation have their headquarters, and no
place in Washington is available for large
scientific gatherings such as might be
expected at meetings of the American
Association for the Advancement of Sci
ence and the scientific congresses on
NdIfOuS SuDJcClS
Three other bodies, he explained. had
applied for space in the Smithsonian In
stitution. but could not be accommodated.
He called attention to the fact that the
George Washington Memorial Association
proposed to erect memorial building
dedicated to the increase and diffusion of
knowledge in all lines of human activ-
ity that will conduce to the advance
ment of the welfare Of mankind.
The building is to be we'll located, at
tractive in appearance practical in plan
and construction, of the most durable
character and SO arranged as to furnish
home and gathering place for national,
patriatic, scientific, educational. literary
Washington Academy of Sciences and its
sixteen alriliated societies.
Support by Endowment.
The organizations mentioned may have
their offices In the building and be liable
| only for their personal expenses, as it
is planned that an endowment fund shall
be collected for the maintenance OF the
building. After full consideration the la
| tional Academy of Sciences by resolution
gave it's approval to the general plan.
1t was further explained at the time
that the memorial association is not work
ing under agreement with any educational
or other institution, but that 1t desired
the cooperation of all organizations and
individuals interested in its purpose.
The Washington Academy has appointed
it's building committee with DR.. George
NJ. Kober as chairman. to take up the
matter with the members of the academy,
it's affiliated societies and the citizens Of
Washington.