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THE WORK OF THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTION

eighth year book of the Carnegie Institution of Washington gives an account of its activities during the past year. The appropriation amounted to about $650.000—about $467,000 being for the maintenance of its departments; $50,000 for minor grants; $30,000 for research associates and assistants; $54,000 for publication, and $50,000 for administrative expenses. As indicated in the last issue of the the administration building was dedicated in November. No new department was inaugurated during the year, but the observatory for meridian astronomy at San Luis, Argentina, began its work under the direction of Dr. Louis Boss, of the Dudley Observatory, Albany. The Nutrition Laboratory adjacent to the Harvard Medical School was also for the first time in working order. The magnetic ship Carnegie made its first voyage. A new tower telescope, 150 feet high and extending 75 feet below the ground, has been begun at the Solar Observatory on Mt. Wilson, California. The work of the Geophysical Laboratory, of the Department of Botanical Research, the Cold Spring Harbor Station and the Marine Biological Laboratory at Tortugas were continued. During the year nineteen volumes were published containing 4,907 pages.

The scientific men who are working in the departments of the Carnegie Institution are accomplishing a great amount of valuable research; but it is not certain that the contributions from the United States have been increased to the extent that might have been hoped from the expenditure of four million dollars. All the leading officers of the institution were engaged in scientific work before its establishment, and it is a question whether their work is better than it would have been if they had remained in their previous positions. The places which they held have been filled by others and there is