592 proceedings: philosophical society 



advanced prices. The most promising substitute for jute is low-grade 

 hemp and flax. 



More publicity has been given to the shortage of henequen (Yuca- 

 tan sisal) for binder twine than to most other fibers. Reports from 

 Yucatan, where most of this fiber is produced, and also from other 

 regions where sisal, Manila maguey, and other substitutes suitable for 

 binder twine are produced, indicate that with reasonable economy 

 there will be twine enough for - the grain crop next season. The present 

 high prices are inducing the establishment of sisal and henequen plan- 

 tations in many parts of the Tropics, but it will take -five years or more 

 for most of - these plantations to reach the stage of production. Until 

 that stage is reached hemp grown in the United States offers the most 

 promising solution of the binder-twine problem. Fibers from various 

 kinds of yuccas, dasylirions, and sansevierias have been suggested, 

 but, besides being poorly adapted for the purpose, no satisfactory 

 method has been developed for preparing them, and with present 

 demands on all well-equipped machine shops this is no time for the 

 development of experimental machinery. 



This shortage of supplies of fiber has one bright side. It has per- 

 suaded American spinners to appreciate the possibilities of American- 

 grown fiber as they have never done before. 



The 17th annual business meeting of the Society was held in connec- 

 tion with the 122d regular meeting as announced above. The report 

 of the Executive Committee showed the following facts concerning the 

 activities of the Society for the preceding year: Average attendance, 

 forty-nine members and fourteen guests. Fifteen new members were 

 elected, making a total membership of one hundred and sixty-three. 

 The customary reports were presented and approved, and the follow- 

 ing officers elected for the ensuing year: President, Walter T. Swingle; 

 Vice President, J. W. T. Duvel; Recording Secretary, Chas. E. Cham- 

 bliss; Corresponding Secretary, H. N. Vinall; Treasurer, F. D. Farrell. 

 The retiring president, T. H. Kearney, was nominated as the repre- 

 sentative of the Society upon the Board of the Washington Academy 

 of Sciences. 



H. N. Vinall, Corresponding Secretary. 



THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The 792d meeting was held at the Cosmos Club, October 13, 1917. 

 Vice President Humphreys in the chair, 127 persons present. 



By invitation Mr. R. A. Millikan delivered a paper on The organi- 

 zation of scientific effort in relation to the war. 



Mr. G. K. Burgess gave a paper on The application of science, to 

 warfare in France. 



Discussion: The papers were discussed by Messrs. Littlehales, L. 

 J. Briggs, and Killian. 



Donald H. Sweet, Secretary. 



