240 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. [Nov. 24, 



Cuba, as a corresponding member of the Academy. Under the rules 

 the election was put over for one month. 



The Secretary presented a series of resolutions adopted by the 

 Joint Commission of Scientific Societies of Washington, D. C. , recom- 

 mending the passage of a bill by Congress, providing for the appoint- 

 ment of a "Director in Chief of the Scientific Division in the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. 



In moving the endorsement of the resolution, Professor 

 Charles Wright Dodge explained the advantages which would 

 result from the appointment of such a Director, who would not be 

 subject to the changes incident to the changing of administrations. 

 The resolutions were endorsed. 



A communication requesting approval of resolutions of Joint 

 Commission of the Scientific Societies of Washington, D, C, against 

 the antivivisection bill (Senate Bill 1552), was read by the Secretary 

 and discussed at length by Dr. Goler, President Fairchild, Professor 

 Dodge and Mr. J. E. Putnam, The communication was laid on the 

 table for a month. 



Professor Henry E. Lawrence, of the University of Roches- 

 ter, read a paper entitled : 



THE PRESENT SCIENTIFIC STATUS OF THE 

 ROENTGEN RADIATION. 



The paper was illustrated by physical experiments. 



November 24, 1896. 



The meeting was held at the Reynolds Library. President 

 Fairchild in the chair. F"orty-nine persons present. 



The President showed a series of three colored pictures published 

 by the Department of Agriculture, just received by the society, illus- 

 trating the effects of erosion from forest destruction, and methods of 

 reclaiming and preserving soils. 



Professor Charles Wright Dodge presented a paper on 

 THE NATURAL CONDITIONS OF EXISTENCE. 



