dMsQo, 
J OWN Ole GEOLOGY 
OCLOBET_NOVEMEE KK, 1508 
TEE GEASS ln CAnION OR Vsti ke AGiE iE Di kO©EKS: 
Tue problem opened for discussion in the ‘‘Symposium on 
Classification, etc,” in the May—June number of the JouRNAL 
oF GEOLOGY is much wider than the compass of the particular 
questions raised. It was by no means lack of interest in this 
problem, or in the particular questions, that led the writer to 
refrain from participation in the symposium. My opinion, then 
as now, was that the real difficulties in the case will not be 
solved by reaching even uniform replies to the questions; and 
further, the meeting which was held in September, of the Inter- 
national Commission on Stratigraphic Classification, which I then 
expected to attend, was another reason for delay in expressing 
an opinion till after the meeting of the commission. 
Taking up the subject, where it was opened in the ‘‘Sym- 
posium,” I will attempt first to give a reply to the preliminary 
question, raised in the introduction by the following sentence, 
V1Z.: 
‘Granting that these questions cannot be answered finally 
at present, or in the near future, it is still urgent to inquire: 
Ly the use of what system, provisionally adopted for current use, can 
we best work on toward better systems in the future?’* In framing 
a reply to this question, let me first call your attention to the 
steps already taken toward the construction of a provisional 
system of general classification and nomenclature for stratified 
rocks. 
It will be remembered that in 1878, twenty years ago, the 
*Jour. GEOL. Vol. VI, p. 334. 
Mor. Vis NOs 7. 671 
