54 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [mARCH 2o, 



The second lecture of the Popular Lecture Course was de- 

 livered l)j Capt. E. C. Dutton, on 



VOLCANIC PHENOMENA. 



March 23d, 1885. 



Stated Meeting. 



The President, Dr. J. S. Newberry, in the chair. 



Thirty-five persons present. 



Prof. Persifor Fraser was elected a Corresponding Mem- 

 l)er. 



President Newberry called attention to the " Bill for the 

 Preservation of the Falls of Niagara," pending in the Legisla- 

 ture of the State of New York. On motion of Prof. D. S. 

 Martin a committee was appointed by the President to draft 

 resolutions expressive of the opinion of the Academy on this 

 matter. At the close of the meeting this committee reported as 

 follows, and the report was unanimously adopted : 



Whereas^ The Falls of Niagara are justly regarded as form- 

 ing one of the glories of our country and our State, both in re- 

 spect to the grandeur of their scenery and to their great 

 scientitic interest as a display of the action of natural forces ; and 



Tl hereas, -The bill for the securing of the adjacent property is 

 now pending before the Legislature of the State, and the whole 

 work done by the commission will be lost and a priceless oppor- 

 tunity thereby suffered to pass if the proper provision is not 

 made now for its consummation ; therefore 



Iiesolved, That the preservation of the Falls of Niagara 

 and the surrounding scenery against all forms of injury and 

 spoliation, and all absorption by monopolies, is a matter of the 

 highest interest and importance to the people of this State 

 through all coming generations ; and 



Iiei<olved, That the New York Academy of Sciences would 

 earnestly urge upon the representatives of the people at Al- 

 bany, the prompt adoption of the measures now pending for the 

 permanent reservation of the " Niagara Park." 



D. S. Martin, ^ 



(IE, V 



F. Collingwood, ) 



W. P. Trowbridge, \ Committee. 



