Page:The Scientific Monthly vol. 3.djvu/521

 THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE s^S

problems, the council goes on to say i board of scientific men, as far remoTed that other machinery and additional from prejudice and politics as the jus- state assistance are absolutely neces- tices of the supreme court should be, sary for the purpose. But it needed ^^^ &s expert in science as they are in the shock of the war to make this mani- t^o law, whose decision on questions of f est. The council decided first of all to scientific policy and scientific appoint- save as many as possible of the re- ! in^i^ts should be final within the limits searches which were being conducted be- \ ^^ *^® ^^^ *^^ *^® appropriations fore the war and were in danger of passed by the congress, abandonment, and recommended the

��payment of a series of grants. They also have under consideration the pos- sibility of inducing firms in at least

��PB0GBES8 IN THE MAPPING OF THE EABTH

In his presidential address before the

��some of the industries to assist the Geographical Section 4it the recent progress of research by informing them meeting of the British Association for in confidence of the problems they have ! the Advancement of Science Mr. Ed- in hand or in contemplation. The uni- 1 ward A« Beeves described the progress versities, it is contended, can and must ; chat has been made in surveying and

��be the main sources of research in pure science, the discoveries in which lie at the root of all practical and technical

��mapping the earth since 1880, and there are here reproduced two maps which were presented at the meeting.

��applications. But they will not be able | The maps are drawn on an equal area to do their fair share imless they can projection, that is to say, a certain attract more students and larger funds, area on the map, such as a square inch.

��President Wilson in appointing the advisory board remarks: "In the pres- ent instance, the time of some of the members of the advisory board could

��everywhere represents the same area on the earth's surface. The idea kept in view in drawing the maps is that the shade deepens as the accuracy of the

��not be purchased. They serve the gov- surveys increases. (1) The parts that emment without remuneration, efficiency are topographically mapped from tri< being their sole object and American- angulation or rigorous traverses are ism their only motive.'' It may, how- shown by the darkest tint; (2) those ever, be questioned whether service, that are less accurately mapped from without remuneration promotes effi- 1 surveys chiefly non-topographical, and ciency. The English committee of the of which in many places the basis con- Privy Council is doubly amateurish, not sists to a great extent of disconnected consisting of scientific men and not land-office and property plans, are being paid. This may be in accord with shown by the tint next in density; and aristocratic traditions, but in a democ- then the next lightest tint (3) repre- raey men should be paid the value of ^^eiits the parts of the world that are their services. Advice given without only mapped from route-surveys or charge and without responsibility is rough traverses of explorers. Although usually worth no more than it costs. these traverses vary greatly in degree of But these various advisory scientific [ accuracy, they can not be considered so and industrial commissions are impor- reliable as the surveys shown by either tant as indicating an awakening of pub- of the other two shades, and in many lie interest to the place of science under cases the mapping consists of the rough- the government. It may be that in due est sketches. (4) The regions that are time the scientific and expert functions entirely unsurveyed and unmapped are of the government will be recognized as indicated by the lightest tint of all, coordinate with its legislature, executive almost white.

and judicial departments. A supreme Beferring to the state of surveys in

court to interpret the "laws of nature" the Eastern Hemisphere in 1860, it will

is not required, but we do need a paid be seen that outside the continent of

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