Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-01

lcity - better known for other
Ithings-to the business world
The lure is the scientific atmos-
Iphere and activity "a stepped
up activity which had its start
10 years ago when scientific re-
search popularity proved itself in
terrifying weapons and medical
discoveries.
The town is being called a
l"Capital of Science"
| OF course. the old. lofty insti-
buttons of science. the National
Academy. the Smithsonian. the
Carnegie Institution have always
been here, well settled now in
the upper crust of what they
represent. The Naval Research
Laboratory, established in 1928
down in the Southwest corner OF
Washington is something of a
Iforerunner off all the Govern
ment labs now engaged in re-
search throughout the area -
like the National Institutes OF
Health in Bethesda and Its big
Clinical Center under the Public
Health Service.
War Lighted the Fuse
1t took the second World War.
more than anything else. to light
the fuse which set of the local
boom in science.
For then, as DR.. Vannevar
Bush has stated, THE decision
was taken to recognize scientists
las more than mere consultants
ito fighting men--they became
full and responsible partners in
the conduct Of war"
1t was with this distinguished
scientist, who recently stepped
down as head of the Carnegie
institution. that some 10000 per-
sons went to work under the
once of Scientific Research and
Development. They spent half
ia billion dollars and came up
with the atom bomb. the prox-
Unity fuse, radar, anti-submarine
devices and host Of other de-
Ivelopments including major ad-
Ivances in medicine.
The Government got what it
wanted from these men. The
ultimate result was a victory in
war. But along with it came "a
general respect for the bearded
men in white towers" and a
realization of what research can
produce.
Today the Government is sold
on scientific research. Industry
has taken 1t up--turning profits
back into scientific development.
1T is big business-in television
Igimmicks and tooth paste, in Jet
engines and atomic reactors, in
guided missiles and plump
breasted chickens.
U. S. Role Is Enormous
The Governments role in
|science--that is research on its
own and promotion Of private re-
lsearch--is enormous.
In 1910, funds for science
amounted to one per cent of
the total Government outlay.
In fiscal 1855. scientific research
and development was responsible
for 3 per cent, or $2.1 billion
out of Government OUTLAWS Of
$685. billion for all purposes.
Biggest spender in science is
the Department Of Defense.
which alone accounts for about
10 per cent of the total Federal
funds for research and develop
Iment.
Next in spending comes the
Atomic Energy Commission. 1t
lis estimated this department will
spend 1885 million for scientific
research and development in
fiscal '56. Other agencies and
their scientific budgets include
the National Advisory Commit
tee for Aeronautics, $73 million;
Health. Education and Welfare.
I$79 million; Agriculture. $50
million; Interior. $37 million;
Commerce, $35 million. All other
agencies will place $50 million
in research Of one kind or an
other this fiscal year.
Bill Is Staggering
The bill is staggering. But the
Taxpayer is providing the means
for developing scientists idea