8 GEORGE FERDINAND BECKER— MERRILL ^^'""xxt 



occurs, so that joints form, the effect will be small. On the other set of planes viscosity is small, the mass has 

 time to yield by flow, cohesion is weakened and cleavage results. In a word, the theory is that slaty cleavage 

 is due to solid flow attendant upon rotational strains. So much of the energy of the system as is not poten- 

 tialized is dissipated on the plane of maximum slide, and this may or may not lead to the alteration of mineral 

 constituents, e. g., the transformation of feldspar into biotite. 



In his paper on the Age of the Earth (1910), Becker pointed out the probable errors in the 

 methods previously employed, with particular reference to the works of Kelvin, Darwin, Joly, 

 and F. W. Clarke. He thought also to show that "radioactive minerals cannot have the great 

 age attributed to them. Only something like a tenth of the heat emitted by the earth can be 

 ascribed to radioactivity plus all other exothermic chemical transformations, the remaining 

 nine-tenths of the heat being due to compression." Barrell, in a more recent paper (1917), 

 subjected this conclusion to severe criticism, but as to which of the two credit is to be given for 

 nearest approach to actual facts it is as yet impossible to say. Although not so shown in his 

 correspondence, Doctor Becker was greatly interested in Chamberlin's planetessimal hypothesis, 

 though by no means in agreement therewith. 



In accordance with an arrangement made with the War Department, Doctor Becker, under 

 orders of July 8, 1898, visited the Philippines for the purpose of investigating and reporting on 

 the mineral resources of these islands. He sailed from San Francisco on the transport Pueblo 

 July 15, under General Otis. After reaching Manila, he devoted some time to the preparation 

 of a brief paper entitled "Memorandum on the Mineral Resources of the Philippine IslaDds," 

 compiled from various unpublished records and published memoirs available in Manila, and 

 from verbal information furnished by mining men, capitalists, and others. This memorandum 

 was published in Part VI of the Nineteenth Annual Report of the United States Geological 

 Survey. 



In September of that year, Doctor Becker spent some days in field work on the island of 

 Corregidor and about Mariveles. On his return to Manila he prepared, at General Otis's request, 

 a memorandum on the agricultural resources of the archipelago. Shortly afterwards, finding 

 it impracticable on account of the native rebellion to pursue further his geologic investigations, 

 he attached himself to the Bureau of Military Information, Eighth Army Corps, under Major 

 Bell. In this position he rendered valuable service, translating from the Manila newspapers 

 articles of importance or interest to the Government and the military authorities, and endeavor- 

 ing to enlighten public opinion in the islands by published articles correcting Spanish misrep- 

 resentations and setting forth the real conditions in the United States so far as those conditions 

 were likely to become of importance to the Philippines. 



Doctor Becker's own account of his services, as given in a report to Major Bell, are worthy 

 of reproduction in full. 



Manila, P. I., March 1, 1899. 



Sir: Pursuant to your verbal request, I submit the following report of work done by me in connection 

 with the Information Bureau of the 8th Army Corps, during the three months just passed, viz: December, 

 January and February. 



I made voluntary tender of my services to you at the beginning of December, because the military situation 

 made geological field work impracticable and I was unwilling to occupy the position of United States Geologist, 

 in Charge, without rendering any services to the Government. 



The first duties assigned me in the Bureau under your direction were to keep watch on the Philippine 

 newspaper, "La Independencia, " controlled by Mr. Antinio Luna, and to make translation of articles which 

 seemed of importance or interest to the Military Governor. Another similar newspaper, the "Republica 

 Filipina, " controlled by Mr. Paterno, was afterwards included in this commission, and a variety of written and 

 printed documents were submitted to me for translation. Your files contain copies of these translations. The 

 following is a list of the more important of them. "America and Ourselves" a leader in the Independencia of 

 Dec. 2, 1898, "Let us Wait" a leader in the Independencia of Dec. 3rd. "Philippino Yearnings for Spain" 

 being extracts from the Independencia of Dec. 10th, threatening extracts from the Independencia of Dec. 19th. 

 Passages from Republica Filipina of Dec. 25th complaining of the delay by the United States in announcing 

 its policy. "Let there be Confidence" a conciliatory leader in the Independencia of Dec. 26th. Interview 

 with Malolos Cabinet, Buencamino spokesman (a letter to Mr. Rickards, dated December 27th). 



Primo de Rivera on the Paterno negotiation, (extracts from a memorial of the ex-captain General to the 

 Spanish Senate in August last with some explanations and comments. Handed in December 31.) Primo de 

 Rivera on ecclesiastical reform. (This from the same memorial as the last. Comments were added. Handed 



