106 PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
bonds formerly held by the Smithsonian Institution, and that the 
Government also held quite a large amount of the bonds of the 
States of Virginia and Arkansas in the Indian Trust Fund. If 
legislation should be obtained authorizing the payment of the fourth 
nstalment to these States, such legislation should provide that the 
payment be made in the bonds now held by the Government. 
Mr. ALvorp said that the history of agricultural college grants 
was not thus far very encouraging. It would have been better if 
Congress had provided that the agricultural colleges should never 
be united with other colleges. The union was apt to lead to con- 
fusion and controversies, and lower the standard and prestige of 
both. Witness the case of Dartmouth College. In this reference 
Mr. Mussey concurred. 
The Hon. HucnH McCutxoveu, being invited by the Chair to 
participate in the discussion, said that in Indiana the application of 
the money deposited by the United States had occasioned a long de- 
bate, which had resulted in its division. One half, by means of a 
system of commissioners, was loaned to individuals on Jand and 
mortgage; the other half was put into stock of the State Bank, 
with which the speaker was at that time connected. In a financial 
crisis the first half was practically lost, probably less than one- 
twentieth part being recovered; but the loss was fortunately made 
good by the bank stock, upon which dividends were regularly paid, 
and by which the investment was eventually doubled. Since the 
closing of the bank, this money has constituted the school fund of 
Indiana. 
Mr. R. D. Currs made a communication on 
THE ACTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL GEODETIC ASSOCIATION AS TO 
AN INITIAL MERIDIAN AND UNIVERSAL TIME. 
[ Abstract. ] 
The International Geodetic Association of Europe, formed for 
the purpose of connecting the systems of triangulation executed by 
the different States of Europe, and hence for the measurement of 
arcs, and for the discussion of all questions of science comprised 
within the term Geodesy, has been in active existence for many 
years. The meeting in 1882 was held at The Hague, and before 
adjournment it was decided that the seventh conference should meet 
at Rome, in October, 1883. 
