A century of science in America : $b with special reference to the American Journal of Science, 1818-1918
History
A century of science in America : $b with special reference to the American Journal of Science, 1818-1918
American journal of science; Science -- United States -- History
The difficulties on the financial side met with by the elder Silliman
have been suggested, although not adequately presented, in the various
statements quoted from early volumes. The same problems in varying
degree have continued for the past sixty years. Since 1914 they have
been seriously aggravated for reasons that need not be enlarged upon.
Prior to that date the subscription list had, for reasons chiefly
involved in the development of special journals, been much smaller than
the number estimated by Silliman, for example, in volume =50= (p. xiv),
although there has been this partial compensation that the considerable
number of well-established libraries on the subscription list has meant
a greater degree of stability and a smaller proportion of bad accounts.
The past four years, however, the Journal, with all similar undertakings
here and elsewhere, has been compelled to bear its share of the burden
of the world war in diminished receipts and greatly increased expenses.
It is gratifying to be able to acknowledge here the generosity of the
authors, or of the laboratories with which they have been connected, in
their willingness not infrequently to give assistance, for example, in
the payment of more or less of the cost of engravings, or in a few
special cases a large portion of the total cost of publication. In this
way the problem of ways and means, constantly before the editor who
bears the sole responsibility, has been simplified.
It should also be stated that as those immediately interested have
looked forward to the present anniversary, it has been with the hope
that this occasion might be an appropriate one for the establishment of
a “Silliman Fund” to commemorate the life and work of Benjamin Silliman.
The income of such a fund would lift from the University the burden that
must unavoidably fall upon it when the responsibility for the conduct of
the Journal can no longer be carried by members of the family including
the editor and—as in years long past—a silent partner whose aid on the
business side has been essential to the efficiency and economy of the
enterprise. Present conditions are not favorable for such a movement,
although something has been already accomplished in the desired
direction. At the present time every patriotic citizen must feel it his
first duty to give his savings as well as his spare income to the
support of the National Government in the world struggle for freedom in
which it is taking part. But, whatever the exact condition of the future
may be, it cannot be questioned that the Journal founded by Benjamin
Silliman in 1818 will survive and will continue to play a vital part in
the support and further development of science.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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