January 23, 1902] 



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leisure hours to scientific pursuits and to inspiring interest in 

 natural knowledge in others. The death of such a man is a real 

 loss to science. 



Announcement has already been made of the death, on 

 December 24, 1901, of Mr. Clarence King, who for a short 

 time was Director of the Geological Survey of the United 

 States. His most important work was in connection with the 

 geological exploration of the fortieth parallel, of which the 

 main portion, published during the years iS76and 1877, comprised 

 various reports and the geological and topographical atlas of the 

 Rocky Mountains, the Green River and Utah Basins, and the 

 Nevada Plateau and Basin. At this date there were two other 

 important geological surveys in the States apart from various 

 local surveys ; thus G. M. Wheeler was directing the surveys west 

 of the 1 00th meridian, and F. V. Hayden was in charge of the 

 Survey of the Territories. The three main surveys were con- 

 solidated in 18S0 as the United States Geological Survey, under 

 the directorship of Mr. King. Coming to the work from a long 

 and successful experience, he elaborated a comprehensive plan 

 of operations, and vigorously prosecuted the same through the 

 assistance of a wisely selected corps of geologists and specialists. 

 He directed investigations on Leadville in Colorado, on the 

 Eureka district, and on the Comstock lode in Nevada. Mr. 

 King, however, held office for a year only, retiring in 1S81, as 

 he believed he could render more iinportant service to science 

 as an independent investigator. He was succeeded by Major 

 J. \V. Powell, from whose introductory remarks in the second 

 annual report of the United States Geological Survey we gather 

 some of the above particulars. The hope entertained by Mr. 

 King was not fulfilled, as unquestionably his most valuable 

 contributions to science were his official maps and reports. In 

 later years his most important paper was that on the age of the 

 earth, which appeared in the annual report of the Smithsonian 

 Institution for 1893. 



So.ME of the scientific results obtained by members of the 

 National Antarctic Expedition during the voyage of the Discovery 

 from the Cape to New Zealand are mentioned in an article in 

 last Saturday's Times. It was part of the instructions of the 

 expedition that the Discovery should proceed southwards to- 

 wards the point of maximum total magnetic [force. The de- 

 spatches received state that on November 12, 1901, in lati- 

 tude 50° S., longitude 131' E., Captain Scott determined 

 to turn southwards towards this focus, running more or less 

 on the line of no variation. The result was a very gradual 

 increase of total force, while there were other points of interest 

 in the observations of the dip and variation. The Discovery 

 continued to push southwards till November 16, when the first 

 ice was sighted. The detached pieces which were first met 

 with were soon succeeded by a loose pack of drift ice, with 

 occasional fragments of glaciers. On November 16 a sounding 

 was taken in 2300 fathoms, while the magnetic observations 

 showed a dip of 86°. The furthest south point reached was 

 62° 50', in longitude 139° 40' E. The highest glacier was seen 

 on November 17, when another sounding was made in 23CX5 

 fathoms. The Discovery turned north-eastwards on November 17, 

 and on the iSth a sounding was made in 1750 fathoms. Captain 

 Scott then made as rapidly as possible for his destination in 

 New Zealand. On November 22 Macquarie Island was reached. 

 A landing was effected, and the naturalists did some good work. 

 Auckland Island was sighted on November 25, and Lytteltou 

 was reached on November 28. As already announced, the Dis- 

 covery has since then turned her face southwards to enter upon 

 the real work of the expedition. In order that the expedition 

 may be in a position to complete the work for which it has 

 been organised, it is essential that it should be free to remain 

 away for at least two, and if possible three, years, as is the 

 NO. 1682, VOL. 65] 



case with the cooperating German expedition. For this end 

 more funds are absolutely necessary (i) to supplement the 

 equipment of the main expedition, and (2) to send out a 

 second ship in the autumn of 1902. The second ship is in- 

 dispensable if the expedition is not to return after one year's 

 work. It is required to take out a further supply of coal and 

 other stores, to bring away any members of the expedition 

 who may be incapacitated, and to leave suitable substitutes, 

 as well as to obtain information as to the further plans of the 

 expedition. About 6000/. has been subscribed for this purpose, 

 and at least 10,000/. more is required in order to equip and man 

 the ship which has been obtained. The urgency of the need 

 should inspire those who have the means to come forward with 

 liberal offers of assistance. 



A PAPER on modern machine methods, by Mr. H. F. L. 

 Orcutt, read at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on 

 Friday last, contains a large amount of information in illustra- 

 tion of the value of perfected methods of machining. The use 

 of accurate limit gauges instead of measuring with micrometers 

 or calipers is strongly urged, even in small shops. There is a 

 widely spread and erroneous idea, particularly amongst European 

 manufacturers who would emulate American manufacturers, that 

 the latest methods cannot be economically adopted except where 

 work is thoroughly standardised, specialised, and made in large 

 quantities. Mr. Orcutt thinks otherwise, and remarks that a 

 single hole is more cheaply bored in a chucking machine than 

 in a lathe. It is more easily made to a limit gauge than when 

 the skill of a workm.an in setting his calipers has to be trusted. 

 One spindle is more cheaply finished in the grinding machine 

 than in the lathe, quality duly considered, and, again, is more 

 easily finished to a limit gauge than to calipers, with the employ- 

 ment of less skilful labour. The idea that big quantities and 

 standard work are necessary before modern equipment begins to 

 play an important part in the economics of manufacturing, is 

 described as the delusion of those who have grasped but a small 

 part of the problem. The advantages of possessing a well- 

 equipped laboratory and testing department are pointed out. 

 Materials should be studied with a view to selecting that which 

 is most suitable for the purpose, which, being most suitable, can 

 be most rapidly machined, and which, fulfilling all conditions, 

 is the cheapest. This cannot be accomplished with the haphazard 

 methods commonly employed. Where the size of a shop does 

 not warrant the expenditure necessary to support its own depart- 

 ment, several manufacturers ought to combine and contribute to 

 the support of a fully equipped laboratory. There is, however, 

 Mr. Orcutt states, no practical reason why every mechanical 

 engineering establishment in the United Kingdom should not 

 have a testing institution at its command which could be 

 constantly in use. The realisation of this state of affairs would 

 be of incalculable benefit to the industries and commerce of 

 Great Britain. 



The report of the proceedings of the fifth Congress on 

 Criminal Anthropology has just been issued. Prof. G. A. van 

 Hamel, the president, briefly described, in his opening speech, 

 the scope of anthropology so far as it is concerned with crimin- 

 ology. Prof. Lombroso gave the Congress a comprehensive 

 sketch of the progress of anthropological research since 1897, 

 and read a paper on the prevention and treatment of crime. He 

 was of opinion that the passions which inspire many serious 

 crimes, especially those committed from political motives, were 

 energies which might be turned to the advantage of the com- 

 munity if only they were classified and directed into the proper 

 channels. Profs. Lacassagnes and Martin, adopting as their 

 text les sociitis ont Ics criminels qti'elles miritent, contended 

 that the only way to stamp out recidivistes and habitual criminals 

 was to enact drastic laws to limit the consumption of alcohol. 



