V POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 
[Ji-^ 
^CO. 
. The Oat-Door morld. 
Edited by HARLAN II. BALLARD, 
President of the Agassiz Association. 
[P. O. Address, Pittsfield, Mass.] 
The general outlook over the Chapters of 
the Agassiz Association is most gratifying 
and encouraging. All our courses of study 
are in full operation, and show full classes 
and abundant enthusiasm. The interest of 
our Chapters always increases as summer 
opens, and this year, in many cases, this 
interest verges upon excitement. The suc- 
cessful Conventions of the New York and 
Brooklyn Assemblies, the organization of the 
Rhode Island Assembly, the pleasant and 
promising start of the Corresponding Geo- 
logical Chapter, the large accession of new 
Chapters, and the interest aroused among 
leading educators by means of the Popular 
Science News, are all trustworthy signs of 
a quiet, but sure and healthful growth. 
A CORRESPONDING GEOLOGICAL 
CHAPTER. 
As we have before explained, we have in 
the Agassiz Association, besides Chapters of 
the ordinary sort, — which are local science 
clubs, — another kind, composed not of mem- 
bers brought together by the accident of 
neighborhood, but by the stronger bond of 
a kindred interest. These "Corresponding 
Chapters " are composed of members scat- 
tered, it may be, throughout the United 
States, but all engaged in studying the same 
branch of natural science. Reports have 
been published in this paper from the Grav 
Memorial Botanical Chapter, the Isaac Lea 
Memorial Chapter of Conchology, and the 
Corresponding Archicological Chapter. It 
now gives us pleasure to report the organiza- 
tion of the Corresponding Geological Chap- 
ter of the Agassiz Association, which, begin- 
ning February 30 with sixteen members, had 
increased by April 7 to twenty-four. 
The plan of work and other details are 
clearly set forth in the constitution, which we 
give in full, not onl}' to make more intelligible 
the precise nature and functions of a "Cor- 
responding Chapter," but also that it may 
serve as a model for future Chapters of a 
similar character. This Chapter desires us 
to extend a most cordial invitation to all — 
young or old, learned or learning — to unite 
with it in its fascinating work among the 
rocks; and all who are interested may 
address Mr. Amadeus W. Grabau, General 
Secretary, 154 Maple Street, Buffalo, N. Y. 
The present officers of this Chapter arc an 
Executive Council, consisting of Franklin W. 
Barrows, President; Amadeus W. Grabau, 
General Secretary ; Frederick A. Vogt, 
Treasurer ; George T. Wardwell, and Miss 
I. S. Deane, all of Buflalo ; and four 
Division Secretaries, viz. : Mrs. E. F. Boyd, 
118 Hyde Park Avenue, Hyde Park, Mass. ; 
E. T. Liefeld, Ph. B., 53 Avon Street, New 
Haven, Ct. ; H. W. Britcher, 707 West 
Street, Syracuse, N. Y., and Rev. J. M. 
Keck, A. M., Chardon, O. 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
ARTICLE I. — NAME. 
The Corresponding Geological Cliapterof the Agassiz Asso- 
cialion. 
AKTICUE 2.— OBJECT. 
Mutual assistance in the study oi geology, mineralogy, and 
paleontology by means of correspondence and the exchange of 
specimens. 
ARTICLE 3.— MEMBERSHIP. 
Any student of geology, or any ot its branches, who gives 
suitable evidence of his ability, is eligible to membership, and, 
upon application to the President or General Secretary, becomes 
a member of this Chaj>ter and thereby of the Agassiz Associa- 
tion, by agreeing to the constitution and paying the annual 
fee. Members are recommended to purchase Three Kivgtlimis, 
the hand-book of the Agassiz Association. 
ARTICLE 4. — HONOKAKV MEMBERS. 
A. Geologists of advanced standing are invited to become 
Honorary Members of the Chapter. 
B. Honorary Members shall not be required to pay the 
annual fee, or to furnish quarterly reports, but will be expected 
to contribute such suggestions and advice as they find con- 
venient. 1'hey will not be entitled to vote. 
ARTICLE 5. — OFFICERS. 
A. The elective oflicers of this Chapter shall be a President, 
General Secretary, Treasurer, and an Executive Council, elected 
in March of each year. 
IJ. The President, who must be a teacher of geology, shall 
have general supervision of the Chapter, make an annual 
report of its workings (which shall be sent to each member), 
and jierform such other duties as are provided in this conslitu- 
tion. 
C. The General Secretary shall keep a list tif all members 
and their addresses; a record of all business transacted by the 
Chapter; prepare an annual repoit to the I'resident of the A. 
A., and perform such other duties as are hereafter provided. 
D. He shall be custoilian ol all the Chapter correspondence 
after it has made the circuit ol Uie Chapter, and, at the close of 
his term, turn over to his successor all books and papers 
belonging to the Chapter. 
E. 'rhe Treasurer shall have charge of all moneys of the 
Chapter, pay them out only on an order signed by the President 
and General Secretary, and make an annual report ot all 
receipts and disbursements. 
F. The Executive Coimcil shall be composed of the Presi- 
dent, who shall be, tx ojfi- ti>, chairman, General Secretary, and 
three (3) other members. '1 hey shall have general control ol 
the Chapter, and to them all motions, petitions, and plans not 
conflicting with this constitution shall be referred for decision. 
ARTICI-E 6. — Dl ES. 
The annual dues of this Chapter shall be one dollar ($[.oo), 
payable in March of each year, which shall be used to defray 
current expenses of the Cliapter, as olUcial postage, printing, 
etc., and for such other purposes as the Executive Council may 
direct. 
AltTICLE 7.— IJI VISIONS. 
A. The President shall arrange the Chapter into divisions 
of not more than ten (10) members, designated by the letters of 
the alphabet. 
B. Each division shall be under the immediate supervision 
of a Division Secretary, appointed by the President, with the 
consent of the Executive Council. 
C. This oflicer shali attend to the circulation of the reports 
in his division, notitying ihe l*resiilent promptly of anj irregu- 
larity in transmission. 
ARTICLE 8.— RErORT-S OF MEMBERS. 
A. Each member sli;ill report on the first of May, August, 
November, and Febru.ny —beginning with May ist, 1S90— to 
the President, giving the result of his studies and jjersonal 
researches in geology, mineralogy, or paleontology during the 
previous quarter. 
B. The President shiiU, on the loth of the month, or as soon 
as practicable, after affixing the Chapter stamp, (or writing his 
official signature on the first page in red ink),' send the reports, 
securely sealed, to the Secretaries of the respective divisions to 
which the writers belong. 
C. These officers shall attach to the reports a register of the 
addresses and numbers of the members of their divisions 
(themselves being numbered one), and circulate them in rota- 
tion. At the same time they shall send a postal-card to the 
General Secretary, stating when they received and forwarded 
each set of reports, and the division to which they belong. 
D. Each member shall record upon the register the date of 
receiving and forwarding the reports, keep a private memoran- 
dum of the same, and inform the Secretary of his division by 
postal-card when he received and forwarded the same. 
E. No member shall keep this, correspondence more than 
three (3) days. 
F. The last member in each division shall send the reports 
and register to the Secretary of the next division, who will 
again attach to them a register of his division, and notify the 
General Secretary when he received h,nd forwarded them; and 
so on. 
G. When the reports have made a complete circuit of tlie 
Chapter, they shall he returned to the President for inspection, 
and thence forwarded to the General Secretary for future 
keeping. 
H. I^ight weight paper shall be used in single sheets of the 
largest commercial letter size (S%xii inches.) The General 
Secretary shall keep each member supplied with a sufficient 
amount of paper for all reports, the expense to be defrayed 
from the treasury. 
1. Each member shall fasten his report together at the top 
in some way, writing upon one side of the paper only, leaving 
an inch or more margin at the top, so that the reports may be 
bound if desired. 
J. In case a member — for sickness or any other good cause- 
is unable to rejwrt, a notice to the President, stating the reason 
of failure, shall be suilicient excuse. 
ARTICLE 9. — EXrUI-SIONS. 
Any member who shall be guilty of a flagrant misdemeanor 
shall be dealt with in the following manner: The Executive 
Council shall constitute a committee who shall have the power 
to expel the otVending member, if he cannot show the charge 
false, unless the Chapter shall, of its own accord, protest 
against said expulsion. Provided, that in case any member of 
the Council be personally interested, his place on the committee 
shall be filled by the remainder of the Council. 
ARTICLE 10. — AMENDMENTS. 
Tills constitution may be amended at any time by a two- 
thirds v(,>te of all tlie members in good standing. 
Note.— Many of the ideas, of this constitution are adopted 
from that of the Gray Memorial Botanical Chajjter. 
THE COLIRSE IN MINERALOGY. 
If the Agassiz Association liail never 
accomplished anything besides what has been 
done dining the past six months in Professor 
Gtittenberg's conrse in mineralogy, all the 
efforts in its behali" would have been well 
rewarded. No fewer than five hundred vol- 
untary students have taken this admirable 
course, which places actual specimens in the 
hands of each pupil, and requires of each 
personal experimental observation and inde- 
pendent thought. Under date of April i, 
Professor Guttenberg writes: "Your kind 
notices concerning my couise in mineralogy 
have had good results, especially the notice in 
the Popular Science News. The edition 
of five hundred lesson pamphlets — -each 
accompanied by a case of mineial specimens' 
and simple instruments — is already exhausted. 
I had not intended to go beyond that number, 
for the work really takes more time than I 
can well spare ; but I iiave received latelv 
letters which speak in so high terms of the 
course, and others expressing so great dis- 
appointment at its limitation, that I have 
resolved to issue another edition as soon as I 
shall have finished my work on the third 
grade, which will be by May i. I am also _ 
much pleased with Santa Claus. The 
paper, so fidl of bright things, cannot fail 
to be of great interest to the children, and 
must exert a good influence. I only wish 
that more space than the two pages could he 
given to the Agassiz Association." 
