Aprit 5, 1912] 
movement upwards of huge masses of rock 
salt in Cenozoic deposits along the Gulf 
border. The bearing of the structures pro- 
duced in the neighboring beds by such growths 
and movements on oil concentration was duly 
set forth in Bulletin 429 of the United 
States Geological Survey. Recently he has 
had the opportunity of testing the value of his 
“ dome theory” for locating oil “pools” in a 
region far away from any known oil occur- 
rences. Reference is here made to Pine 
Prairie, south central Louisiana, where the 
Myles Mineral Co. has had the courage to try 
out the theory and has discovered by the means 
a new oil field. The director writes “I con- 
sider this a most remarkable vindication of a 
theory originated by you, and we attribute a 
large measure of our success thus far to your 
advice.” 
Space should not be taken here to discuss 
the probable exact location of oil in connec- 
tion with these domes; that is a matter de- 
pending largely on the approach of the salt 
dome to the surface, size, location, ete. These 
matters have been outlined at least in the 
U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin already re- 
ferred to. But the location of oil by means of 
a theory unheard of ten years ago does seem 
worthy of record at this time. Another fact 
that should be impressed upon the mind of the 
public now is the absolute worthlessness of 
stock in companies putting down wells 
“near” the discovery well. This matter has, 
however, been discussed in Bulletin 429. 
G. D. Harris 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE 
ADVANCEMENT GF SCIENCE 
SECTION D 
Dr. J. A. HouMEs, director of the Bureau of 
Mines, was elected vice-president of the association 
and chairman of Section D for the next meeting, 
at Cleveland. Professor O. P. Hood was elected 
a member of the council for the Cleveland meeting 
and Major W. W. Crosby a member of the sec- 
tional committee for five years, vice Professor J. 
E. Boyd, whose term expired. Mr. W. Bowie 
represented the section in the general committee. 
SCIENCE 
547 
The meetings of the section were presided over 
by Vice-president C. S. Howe, of Cleveland. The 
section held its first session on Wednesday morn- 
ing, December 27, at Georgetown Law School. 
Two sessions were held on Thursday at the same 
place. On Friday morning and afternoon the 
section met in the Institute for Industrial Re- 
search. On Saturday, visits of inspection, under 
the direction of Professor A. H. Blanchard, were 
made to the office of good roads and to the sites 
of actual road construction in the vicinity of 
Washington and Baltimore. 
On Thursday afternoon, following the address 
of retiring Vice-president A. lL. Rotch, the follow- 
ing resolutions were adopted: 
WHEREAS, the new and important art of navi- 
gating the air requires for its proper development 
exclusive investigations in aerodynamics, and thor- 
ough comparative tests of practical aerial ma- 
chines, and 
WHEREAS, the Aero Club of America proposes to 
secure the endowment of a laboratory for such in- 
vestigations and comparative tests, therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Engineering Section of the 
American Association for the Advancement of 
Science expresses to the Aero Club of America its 
appreciation of the urgent need for such a labora- 
tory, and heartily commends its efforts to secure 
an adequate endowment, and be it further 
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be 
sent to the Aero Club of America, with best wishes 
for the success of its efforts. 
On Friday afternoon, resolutions were adopted 
extending the thanks and appreciation of the sec- 
tion to Dr. A. S. Cushman, director of the Insti- 
tute for Industrial Research, for the use of the 
laboratory for the meetings on that day. The 
secretary takes this occasion to express his appre- 
ciation of the valuable assistance of Dr. OC. 8. 
Howe and Professor A. H. Blanchard in securing 
papers for the program and to the members and 
non-members who contributed. 
The Washington meeting of Section D was suc- 
cessful beyond expectations, the papers being val- 
uable and interesting and the attendance at the 
sessions encouraging as to numbers and interest 
manifested. 
Abstracts and titles are listed below by groups. 
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS AND TITLES 
Analysis of the Deflections and Stresses in Rein- 
forced Concrete Floor Slabs Constructed on 
