39 
address entitled: ‘‘’The Achievements of the Academy ” and in- 
troduced the president-elect, Dr. John Van Duyn, who spoke 
pointedly on the present condition of the academy and suggest- 
ively for its future. 
MaRCH 17, 1899. 
TWENTY-NINTH REGULAR MEETING. 
The president, Dr. Joun VAN Duyn, in the chair. 
Fifteen persons present. 
Dr. D. M. Totman was elected to active membership. 
Principal J. D. Wilson read a paper entitled: 
Bak HISTORY OF GEOLOGIC SCIENCE. 
Mr. W. W. Newman read the second paper, entitled : 
ONONDAGA GEOLOGY. 
This was an account of his own observations and detailed 
the conditions of surface geology, especially as they occurred 
in the valley a half century ago. 
Mr. C. E. Wheelock read the third paper, entitled: 
AE ORISKANY SANDSTONE: 
( Abstract. ) 
The Oriskany sandstone of Onondaga county would not be 
worth considering from an economic point of view, for it is 
nearly worthless for any useful purpose. It has, however, been 
used for building canal walls, and farm fences. In other places, 
it has been used for the manufacture of glass. (Notes on the 
Geology of Onondaga county, Schneider, page 26.) 
To the geologist this rock is interesting on account of its 
position in the geological series, dividing conformably the two 
great limestone formations, the Lower Helderberg and Cornifer- 
