PEOCEEDINGS: PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 47 



Something over 30,000 scales, weights and measures were tested, and 

 about 45 per cent of the scales were found to be 3 per cent or more in 

 error, mostly favoring the dealer. 



A little less than 4000 prints of butter were also weighed, and an 

 average shortage of 0.05 ounce per pound or 3.25 per cent was found, 

 taking the estimates of the Bureau of Standards as to the consumption 

 of butter per capita, and assuming that 30 per cent of the butter is sold 

 in the form of prints, and is retailed at 33 cents per pound, it is found 

 that there is a loss to the consumers of the country of $8,228,000 from 

 this one item, and that this shortage is not accidental is shown by the 

 fact that prints of the same brand of butter sold in two cities, one of 

 which had an ordinance requiring the net weight to be marked on the 

 outside of the print, while the other had no such requirement, were full 

 one-pound in the first case while consistently short in the second. 



The results of the investigations were communicated to the state 

 officials and to individuals interested in weights and measures reform 

 in the states, and contributed very largely to the passage of the excel- 

 lent laws recently adopted by the states. 



The activity of the states has brought out the fact that some national 

 legislation is necessary, in order to unify the standards and methods, and 

 bills to effect this are now before Congress. 



The 713th meeting of the Society was held on October 26, 1912, 

 Vice-President Fischer presiding. Two papers were read. 



The 1912 excursion of the American Geographical Society: Mr. W. J. 

 Humphreys, of the U. S. Weather Bureau. 



This excursion, trans-continental in scope, was eminently successful, 

 and was, in celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of 

 the American Geographical Society and of the completion of its new 

 home. Prof. W. M. Davis had charge of the arrangements of the trip, 

 and of the personnel which consisted principally of distinguished per- 

 sons from thirteen different European countries, more than half of 

 whom were men the most eminent in their branches of work. 



The special train on which the party traveled and its equipment were 

 mentioned, and the route of travel and points of interest visited were 

 briefly outlined and illustrated by a number of interesting lantern 

 shdes. The results of the trip were briefly summarized, among which 

 may be mentioned the very favorable impression that the visitors re- 

 ceived of America. 



At the conclusion of Dr. Humphrey's paper the Secretary was for- 

 mally directed to communicate to the American Geographical Society 

 this Society's deep appreciation and thanks for the inception and suc- 

 cessful execution of this memorable excursion, which must be productive 

 of great and lasting good, not only thru its benefit to geography but 

 also and especially by reason of the kindly personal relations thus estab- 

 lished between learned and influential Europeans and Americans. 



Some results of the new 7nethod of gravity reduction: William Bowie, 

 of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. This Journal 2: 499. 1912. 



