The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-19
Constructive Study

In his campaign for the governor
ship Thomas H. Noodle made fire.
quent reference to the necessity and
ACCESSIBILITY Of taking counsel with
our learned men II the science Of
government is to progress as others
are doing. The plain inference was
that research and the development Of
knowledge would be as beneficial to
government as to other business.
Although 1t IS not always immedi-
ately apparent how theoretical knowl-
edge can be applied, 1t is interesting
to note some OF the studies now un-
der way in North Dakota which may.
eventually, be Of great social and eco
J1omic benefit to the state.
Information concerning them Is
contained In the School Of Education
Record, which lists graduate and other
research work at the state university.
Thus we find Prof. q. A. Abbott,
IN company with numerous others,
prosecuting three studies. One re-
lates to the chemical quality Of the
ground water Of the Mississippi drain
age basin, the other to the removal
OF fluorides from drinking waters and
the third to the fluoride content Of
North Dakota waters.
Most Of US wouldn't know q fluoride
II we met one on the street, but we
all know that water is one Of the
pressing problems Of North Dakota.
We know, too. that II our water be-
gins to taste bad or something hap
pens to the supply, it i handy to
have someone around who does know
about It.
Closely related to the Abbott studies
are those Of Prof. Howard E. simp-
son, state water geologist, who is con-
tinuing his studies on the ground wa
ter resources Of the Mississippi river
basin. This may prove Of prime i'm
portance to farmers who experience
difficulty In finding water supplies
for their families and their stock.
Such studies a. those on actlvated
carbon for North Dakota Ignite, by
Albert M. Cooley, and Of North Da-
kota Bentonite, by Conrad Ulmen,
coupled with the recently completed
study Of the manufacture Of insulat-
ing varnish from Dakota Ignite tar
distillates. may easily lead to the es-
tablishment Of new industries or the
further development Of those already
In existence.
It Is little more difficult to see
how Frank Foley's Photographic and
x-ray analysis Of sulphantimonite
minerals will be Of major benefit, but
it might be profitably remembered
that studies Of no more seemingly
practical value have contributed
enormously to the comfort and the
progress Of mankind.
A great electric company paid
6teinmetz. the so-called wizard, for
delving into things even less likely
to yield practical results, and casted
IN heavily as = result. Behind every
modern manufacturing process stands
one OF more men who puttered around
with X-rays and test tubes or similar
experimental equipment.
In the field Of social advancement.
too. numerous questions Of who, why
and wherefore are being answered by
studies carried on In our midst. For
example. much good might come from
L. Q. Lantis' examination into rural
socio-economic conditions and the
relation between farmers and towns
people In Ward county, which now Is
under way. II It could Get US on the
way to united action BY persons IA
both groups It would be an iuestim.
able boon to the state.
These examples are taken at ran
dom. Some Of the studies may pro.
ducs nothing new and prove Of bene-
tit only IN that they increase the
breadth Of the researchers knowledge.
Others may develop bits Of informa-
ton which, made available to other
men, may unlock the doors to future
developments.
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