LITERARY NOTICES.' 



419 



which embodies the latest and most won- 

 derful mode of transmitting messages — 

 the photophone. The author has avoided 

 technicalities, and has left out descriptions 

 of complex instruments and operations 

 which he deemed more likely to weary than 

 to interest the reader. In dealing with the 

 conflicting claims of rival inventors, he has 

 endeavored to present the leading attaina- 

 ble facts without partisan bias. For the 

 most part, historical data have been gath- 

 ered from publications contemporary with 

 the date of first production of the several 

 discoveries and inventions, and, in many 

 cases, from the original writings of the in- 

 ventors and discoverers themselves. The 

 text is illustrated with 143 figures, and the 

 pages are freshened here and there by an- 

 ecdotes and scientific poetry. 



Elements of Geodesy. By J. Howard Gore, 



B. S. New York : John Wiley & Sons. 



Pp. 282. 



Among the exact sciences geodesy is the 

 one most specially devoted to ascertaining 

 what are the exact form and dimensions of 

 the earth. In the book under review no 

 new theories are advanced, none of the ques- 

 tions requiring solution are discussed. The 

 author, who is Professor of Mathematics in 

 the Columbian University, has endeavored 

 to give in a concise and readable manner 

 all that the student ought to be acquainted 

 with. As he himself states in his preface : 

 " The advanced student and practiced ob- 

 server will find nothing new in this work." 

 And also : ° It is hoped that the beginner 

 will be enabled to get a clear insight into the 

 subject, and feel grateful that the discov- 

 eries and writings of many have been so 

 condensed or elaborated as to make the 

 study of geodesy pleasant." 



The first chapter, which is an historic 

 sketch of geodetic operations, is interesting 

 and full of facts tending to show what prog- 

 ress has been made from the earliest times, 

 and how the desire to know the real dimen- 

 sions of the earth has kept man busy in de- 

 vising and perfecting the methods of meas- 

 urement. The progress made is given step 

 by step, and, as no intricate mathematical 

 questions are mentioned, this chapter can 

 be read with profit by even those who are 

 absolutely profane in mathematical studies. 

 Other chapters treat of instruments and 



methods of observation; base-measurements; 

 field-work ; the theory of the least squares ; 

 the calculations of the triangulation ; for- 

 mula? for the computation of geodetic lati- 

 tudes, longitudes, and azimuths ; calculation 

 of the figure of the earth. The dimensions 

 obtained by some observers are given, as 

 follows: Equatorial radius: Bessel (1841), 

 6,337,397-2 metres; Clarke (1866), 6,378,- 

 206-4 metres; Coast Survey (1877), 6,378,- 

 054-3 metres ; Clarke (1880), 6,378,248-5 

 metres. Length of the quadrant : Bessel 

 (1841), 10,000,856 metres; Claike (1866), 

 10,001,888 metres; Clarke (1880), 10,001,- 

 869 metres. Over twenty pages of for- 

 mulas and factors are added at the close 

 which will be useful for easy reference. 

 Although this work is intended for stu- 

 dents, practiced observers will find it a use- 

 ful addition to their shelves. 



History of the Land Question in the 

 United States. By Shosuke Sato. Bal- 

 timore: N.Murray. Pp. 181. Price, $1. 



This volume constitutes three numbers 

 of the Johns Hopkins University " Studies 

 in Historical and Political Science." It was 

 undertaken by the author in pursuance of 

 special instructions from the Japanese Gov- 

 ernment to investigate certain questions 

 of agrarian and economic interest in the 

 United States. In the introduction are con- 

 sidered the general questions relating to the 

 origin and importance of the public domain 

 and to the principles of land-tenure. The 

 story of the formation of the public domain 

 is then told, its acquisition being the result 

 of cessions by the States, the purchases of 

 Louisiana and the Floridas, Texas annexa- 

 tion and Texas cession, the Mexican ces- 

 sions, and the purchase of Alaska. Under 

 the heading of " The Administration of the 

 Public Domain" are related the histories of 

 the Ordinance of 1787 and of the General 

 Land-Office. Finally, the " History and Pres- 

 ent Condition of the Land System of the 

 United States " are surveyed in detail. 



The American Citizen's Manual. By 

 Worthington C Ford. Two volumes 

 in one. New York: G. P. Putnam's 

 Sons. Pp. 331. $1.25. 



The two books, or rather the two part3 

 of the same book, here combined into one 

 volume, have been before the public for sev- 



