The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-31

| ing ceremonies of this splendid building
which stands as testimonial of your ap-
| probation of a good work well done.
And zone of the best features of the
occasion Is the fact that this good work
| Is still in progress. l am glad that the
people of Alabama did not follow the
| common practice and wait until after
DR.. Smith was dead to do him and them
selves honor. I rejoics with you that
We are here today. not at funeral
| service. but to do honor to and enjoy
with this good man himself the recogni-
ten of not only what he has done, but
what he is doing, and of what he is yet
| to do.
"Dr. Smith doubtless came into the
world without his knowledge or APP
| proval; he has labored in behalf of this
state and this university long and we'll;
| in due course of time he will go out of
the world without his consent, for | am
| cure he would like to work on forever in
the upbuilding of his beloved Alabama.
"And IL I may give to The university
trustees and your state legislature one
piece of good advice, 1t is this: During
Dr. Smiths remaining years give him
all the money and all the help he can
use In this work. You may rest assured
that with his present extensive knowl
edge and experience as basis for every
dollar you now invest the state will reap
an hundred-fold in return
! This important work in Alabama Dr.
Smith was no doubt already planning at
| the tine of his graduation from this In :
stitution as far back as 1862. and during
| his subsequent studies at Heidelberg and
| Gottingin and Berlin. His plans were no
doubt being matured when he entered
| the university as a member of its faculty
| in 1871, because shortly thereafter, In
1873. he organized the state geological
survey. on which he has served continu-
| ously to the present time.
In the discharge OF these double duties
his devotion to his native state has pre-
| vented his accepting more rcmunerative
employment elsewhere, and has kept him
| hard and continuously at work during
the past three decades. He holds the
record among state biologists for long
and faithful service in behalf OF single
state. And it is a record to b. proud of,
for among the state biologists in the
United States during the past half-cen-
fury there have been many able useful
and devoted men who have contributed
largely not only to the science of geol-
| osy, but to the wise development OF the
states they have served.
DIR. Smiths services in Alabama have
witnessed. have been part Of and have
| Sottiiputcu W LHt BIOWtH Oh IuOTt ia
| tional plans looking TO the future as
well as the present welfare in the de-
velopment of the state, and this phase
of his work is worthy of our special
attention on this occasion.
He has also stood for and has been
a part of the wise state policy of. con-
Meeting with its university instruction
other departments of the states activity
such as geological survey. In this
dual capacity, as university professor ard
| state geologist. he has not only done
much toward the intellectual training oil
the young men who safeguard the inter-
ests of the state in every phase of Its
life and work, but he has taught these
young men to know their state; SO thai
in their subsequent careers as Legislators
and teachers, and men following Other
Socations. they have been able to con
tribute toward her wiser growth. both II
material and intellectual affairs. They arr
thus preparing not only good founda
tion but also good superstructure fol
a greater and more permanent future.
"One of the best results of this worl
J in Its bearing on the welfare of the uni
versity is the development of the re
cent movement inaugurated as a small
beginning In 1908 for new museum To-
DIR. Smiths collections; and which un
der the admirable leadership of Cover
nor Conner, President Abercrombie. Mr.
Hill Ferguson, president Of the Alumni
society; DR.. Thomas M. Owens and othe
, alumni. has developed into an importan
, and successful movement for create
! university. The net results today ar
, the two splendid buildings (Smith hal
and Conner halD already completed, ant
the academic building now under con
, struction Unquestfbnably other impor
, tant results will follow in the near fu
ture.
| ~ hic 1ah as
geologist with his labors as a universit
: professor has therefore, enabled him t
do to better advantage both his wor
: for the intellectual development of tn
people Of Alabama at the university an
the work for material development
| throughout the state.
New Purpose in state Development
Furthermore, in this double capacit
DR.. Smith has contributed much to thi
new purpose in the states development
namely, safeguarding the states futur
welfare.
TN the past, the chief idea of the stat
has been and naturally SO. to explor
and publish its material resources ne
n cause material development has Away
Q been, and must continue to be, the I'm
portant basis of intellectual growth, an
even the older American states are sti
young. This present development OF re
sources is the motive, which has ger
q orally led to the establishment OF stat
geological surveys; anf great good ma
. resulted along these lines. The explora
. ton of Hidden or unknown resources J
d different parts of the state; their &C
n vertisement to the world through tn
y publication of geological reports, ia
. brought in new capital and population
d has led to a wise use of home capiti
}. and labor. and has otherwise brougf
3 growth and prosperity to the state.
r 1.-The new purpose in state develol
d ment to which DR.. Smith has contribute
a requires that the state must not on
encourage present development. but mul
: also safeguard its own future II