El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-04
BATTLING DESERT GREAT TASK
OF u S. SCIENTISTS, FEELING OF
DELEGATES TO CONVENTION

lions In the past-that IS the problem
supreme that coufrOnts the scientists
Of the southwest
such was the undertone OF every
discussion at the symposium held BY
the southwestern division Of the Amer
lean association for the advancement
OF science at the high school ~Satur-
day morning.
How 10 coax or drive Nature into
serving the race that finally seems
able to dominate her is the practical
aim Of researches being conducted In
the laboratories experiment stations
and workshops OF Arizona New Next
co, west Texas and northern Mexico
The method used In coping with ma
ture, according 10 the discussion lead
ers. Is TO find out its secrets throug
research work That the day Is near
when the disclosure Of these secrets
must stop Is believed by many uni
versity men II the government and
the states do not eXpend more money
to finance Investigation
Limit Of Knowledge
The danger Of nearing the limit o.
mans knowledge was brought TO the
attention Of the convention by Dr.
Robert w Clothier president OF the
New Mexico College Of Agrlcultura
and Mechanic arts who said that in 90
years there had been an so percen'
turnover among research workers
This loss TO the ranks OF the pioneers
Of knowledge getting is due TO the
fact that the scientist must live
Higher salaries in commercial lines
are stealing them from laborarories
and experiment stations everywher-.
It's useless. DIT. Clc .hier said TO spend
millions for educating people In re-
gard 70 what has been found out d
next 70 nothing Is 70 BE spent in find
= Ia o..
extension. he asked, II there's moth
ing more to eXtend2
The saturday morning sI mposium
was conducted by Dr. D T. HeWett-
president OF The division what IS
being done 10 aid agriculture, tmmi o.
grafton problems, the mining Industry
and medical work in the southwest
were the principal subjects Of modern.
practical interest discussed Dr. D. T.
MacDouEal Of the Carnegie institute,
spoke on The organization Of scien-
tific interests and pointed out the
need Of cooperation Tor the SAKE OF
progress and efficiency
The southyvest's History
Historical features OF the southwest
were taken up by Dr. C. +. Coan, Or
the University Of New Mexico Pant
distribution in the mountains was the
subject Of a lecture by Dr. Forrest
Shreve- Of the Carnegie Institution
He told OF the distribution Of differ
ent types Of plants and trees at va
rious attitudes. He gave 10 as ms
opinion thar plant life was distrib-
uted over glacial bridges rather than
by animal transportation
Talking 10 DIT. Shreve's subject, C.
7 Earle. professor OF geology ar the
University Of Arizona, told how the
storys OF plants ran back into the dim
ages Of the past when me altltude OF
the North American continent was
much higher than now.
He said there was day when
the Hudson rivers bed was 80
miles Widei when the behrinE sea
was a level plain over which mas
todons and other prehistoric ami
mails fhrlved- During the ter
tfarv period there were noun
tnins. The valleys were filled in
since.
The relation OF laboratory research
10 the actual production or 1000 on
the farm was brought out I'm the pa
per read by dean D. W Working. OF
the University Of Arizona
Many Talks
T. II lawson talked on reclamation
problems
Dean C. n Butler. Of the University
OF Arizona. president OF The society
OF engineers meeting here, talked on
the mining industr
DR.. y. C. Preutiss. OF Fl Paso, dis
cussed some special features OF med
zeal work in the southwest
The Symposium vas a joint meeting
and a general discussion. With a
dinner in JuareZ at o'clock tonight
the conventions Of the doctors. engi-
neers and scientists in FL PasO viii
close. Election Of officers for next
year are 10 be held late today.
Discussing the convention Saturday
DR.. David s. HILL president OF the
University OF New Mexico. at Albu-
querque, said the delegates, he felt
certain. were all eutranced with FL
Paso and agreed probably without ex-
ception that it is the logical head
quarters for the associations that met
here. He said he doubted, however,
II EI Paso appreciated the Importance
OF the convention II is his opinion
though. that FL Paso will come 20 ap-
preciate the work the scientists are
doing in the southwest as time goes
on.
Needs More Room
Dr.. Hill came 10 the University
last summer from the unl-
versity Of Illinois. He said saturday
that the fiscal year Of the institution
ended Dec ] and that it was now out
Of debt Tie legislature Of New Mex
leo, which meets Jan. 1. viii be asked
for a new dormitory and new library
for the school. The enrolment now is
900, but the preparatory features have
been done away with so that the
school win be strictly university in
all Of its features. Preparatory educa-
ton win have TO be obtained else
where in high schools or academies.
Other institutions lu the south
west are reported to be in a good con-
dition, but somewhat oVercrowded.
Boz Scouts ToDistribute
T. Dit. D. It,