SCIENCE 



Fkidat, Septembee 24, 1920 



CONTENTS 



Conservation of the Quality of Water of New 

 York State as a Natural Mesource : Dr. "Wil- 

 liam PiBTH Wells 279 



Pleistocene Clays as a Chronometer: Peo- 

 FESSOE H. L. Fairchild 284 



General Besolutions of the Pan-Pacific Scien- 

 tific Conference 286 



Scientific Events: — 



Dimensions and Area of the United States; 

 The British Department of Scientific and 

 Industrial Sesearch; The Centenary of 

 Oersted's Discovery; The National Commit- 

 tee on Mathematical Requirements 287 



Scientific Notes and News 290 



University and Educational News 290 



Discussion and Correspondence: — 



Mirages: H. H. Platt, Fkeeman F. Bukr, 

 (Stephen R. Williams. Family and Sub- 

 family Names in Zoology : Dr. M. W. Lyon, 

 Jr. The Needs of Men of Science in Bu- 

 mania: Dk. S. J. Meltzer 290 



Science and the Public 292 



Notes on Meteorology and Climatology : — 



Tornadoes : C. LeEot Meisinger 293 



Special Articles: — 



The Sounds of Splashes: Professor Arthur 

 Taber Jones. The Crystal Structure of 

 Ice : D. M. Dennison 295 



The American Chemical Society: Dr. Charles 

 L. Parsons 297 



MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for 

 review should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- 

 Hudson, N. Y. 



CONSERVATION OF THE QUALITY OF 



WATER OF NEW YORK STATE AS A 



NATURAL RESOURCE 



ECONOMIC VALUE OF QUALITY IN WATER 



The original abundance of water in the 

 state of New York, its very commonness, has 

 dulled her people's appreciation of the subtle 

 quality value of their heritage. Momentarily 

 shut off from their supply the cities and in- 

 dustries would instantly realize its vital nec- 

 essity. Precipitate ruin of the wonderfully 

 rich, living waters of the state would awaken 

 immediate appreciation of their unreplaceable 

 benefits. Coincident with the decreasing 

 quality condition of the waters, grows its 

 greater economic value. The expansion of 

 cities with their manufactures and commerce 

 is dependent on the very water which they 

 threaten, and the wealth flowing from them 

 seeks the natural wealth of the streams, and 

 the food driven from their waters. Consider 

 the millions spent in cari-ying pure water long 

 distances to the cities, in protection of the 

 watersheds, building and operating- filtration 

 plants, and in the disposal of sewage. Con- 

 sider the millions dependent on clean water 

 at the recreational resorts of the people. Con- 

 sider the value to m.anufaetures themselves of 

 obtaining water of the proper quality for 

 their processes. Consider the value of fish as 

 unrivaled sport and unreplaceable food, and 

 the value of shellfish industries to the state. 

 Consider, lastly, the expense to the state in 

 guarding these resources and in hatcheries to 

 correct the failure of the waters. Not only 

 may the people be denied the recreational ad- 

 vantages of clean waters, and the return from 

 industries dependent on them, but they must 

 bear the extra burden of obtaining suitable 

 water for their vital necessities. Considering 

 the magnitude of its trust, the state can afford 

 to conserve its interests in the quality of 

 water by using it to her greatest advantage. 



