4 TKAITSACTIONS OF THE [OCT. 7, 



He then referred to the recent death of Prof. George H. 

 Cook, long the head of the Geological Survey of that State, and 

 a Corresponding Member of the Academy, and characterized it 

 as a great loss to American science. 



The President followed in continuance of the same subject, 

 speaking of the great personal sorrow that he felfc in the loss of 

 Professor Cook, of the remarkable modesty, good judgment, 

 and unselfishness that had marked his whole career, of his 

 varied attainments in science, his great services to the geological 

 and agricultural interests of the State, the excellence of his 

 scientific reports and maps as Director of the New Jersey sur- 

 vey, and of his large and unwearied interest in doing good 

 among his fellow-men. 



Dr. Brittok having moved the appointment of a Committee 

 to prepare resolutions in memory of Prof. Cook, it was so voted, 

 and the Chair appointed as such Committee, Dr. Britton, 

 Prof. Martik, and Dr. Bolton. 



Dr. Hubbard announced the death of one of the Academy^s 

 corresponding members, the eminent Italian geologist. Prof. 

 Giuseppe Meneghini, of Pisa. 



The subject of consideration announced for the evening was 



THE PROPOSED SITES FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR OF 1892, 



with especial reference to the question of the use of any portion 

 of Central Park. 



Prof. D. S. Martin opened the discussion by saying that it 

 would seem that '^eternal vigilance is the price" of maintain- 

 ing the integrity of our public breathing-places. No sooner is one 

 scheme of invasion or spoliation checked, than some new one 

 arises in its stead. He referred to the movement, some ten 

 years ago, which endangered the existence of Washington Square, 

 when it was proposed to make that the point of emergence of 

 the projected Hudson Kiver tunnel. The Academy at that time 

 had protested vigorously ; and the Public Parks Protective Asso- 

 ciation was organized, and did most excellent work in exposing, 

 denouncing, and ultimately frustrating the attempt. Recent- 

 ly, there has been the project of erecting a great municipal build- 

 ing to occupy the entire northeastern portion of what is still 



