SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS 4OI 



proper organization should be an organization of societies and affilia- 

 tions and not of individuals." This was opposed principally by repre- 

 sentatives of the American Association of Engineers, but was finally 

 unanimously adopted. 



The fifteenth annual meeting of the American Association of Museums 

 was held at the Natural History Building of the National Museum 

 on May 17-19. Announcement was made of the incorporation of the 

 Association. 



A scientific congress has been organized to meet at Honolulu August 

 2-20. Its object is to outline scientific problems of the Pacific Ocean 

 region, suggest methods for their solution, make an inventory of ex- 

 isting knowledge, and devise plans for future work. The program 

 is in charge of the Committee on Pacific Exploration of the National 

 Research Council. Among those in attendance from Washington 

 will be: Paul Bartsch, of the National Museum; William Bowie, 

 of the Coast and Geodetic Survey; T. Wayland Vaughan, of the 

 U. S. Geological Survey; H. S. Washington, of the Geophysical Lab- 

 oratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington; and H. O. Wood, of the 

 Research Council. 



A laboratory for research on dyestuffs and explosives has been es- 

 tablished at George Washington University. The laboratory, which 

 is under the general supervision of Professor H. C. McNeil, will be in 

 charge of Mr. G. W. Phillips, formerly of the Chemical Warfare Service. 

 Dr. C. E. MuNROE, of the National Research Council, will be consult- 

 ing chemist of the laboratory. 



The Bureau of Mines has completed arrangements for a coopera- 

 tive research on the carbonization of lignite. $200,000 is to be sup- 

 plied by private parties for the erection of a plant at New Salem, North 

 Dakota. The Bureau will be in charge of the technical and experi- 

 mental side of the investigation. 



A new solar constant observing station is being established on the 

 Haqua Hala Mountains near Wenden, Arizona, which will be equipped 

 with apparatus now in use at Mt. Wilson, California. At the same 

 time the Calama, Chile, station is being removed to the summit of a 

 mountain about ten miles south of Calama, where it will be about 

 10,000 feet above sea level and free from interference due to the dust 

 and smoke from the town and mine. 



Messrs. Carleton R. Ball, A. S. Hitchcock, and R. A. Oakley, 

 of the Bureau of Plant Industry, received the honorary degree of Doc- 

 tor of Science from Iowa State College in June. 



Dr. Harvey Bassler, form.erly paleontologist with the U. S. Geo- 

 logical Survey, is now engaged in exploratory work for the Standard 

 Oil Company in South America. 



