JANUARY 18, 1901.] 
000; the library has grown from 120,000 vol- 
umes to over 800,000 volumes; the teaching force 
from 226 to 361; and the number of students 
from 1,564 to 2,560. These figures do not include 
either Barnard College or Teachers College. 
Since removal, also, an educational deficiency 
of more than $48,000 has been overcome, and 
the University, after this academic year, will 
be running within its income, after assuming 
the full care of its enlarged plant. 
For a few years and for a few years only, the 
University needs help to prevent its debt from 
being further swelled by borrowed interest. It 
is not possible to take any such sum as the 
University needs, annually, in the immediate 
future, out of its educational work, without 
destroying its efficiency. This ought not to be 
be permitted: First, because the work is highly 
useful and is being economically and well done ; 
second, because any curtailing of the Univer- 
sity’s educational offer would be reflected im- 
mediately in loss of earning power ; and, third, 
because, for the credit of the city, the Univer- 
sity must be kept where it now is, in the very 
front rank. 
To meet this situation, appeal is made to all 
the friends of the higher education in New 
York. Friends of the University, including 
the President and Trustees, have already 
pledged $38,000 for this purpose. For the 
rest, the University confidently turns to the 
‘citizens of New York who value the things for 
which Columbia University stands in this 
metropolitan city. 
REPORT ON A WESTERN BRANCH OF THE 
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS. 
As we have already announced, the American 
Society of Naturalists decided to meet next 
year at Chicago, and the Council was requested 
to report on the relations of the Society to the 
Western Branch, which has held two success- 
ful meetings in that city. Prior to this decision 
a committee consisting of Professors Henry 
Kraemer, G. D. Macloskie, E. B. Wilson, C. B. 
Davenport and T. H. Morgan made a report 
which we publish, in order that men of science 
may have an opportunity to consider and dis- 
cuss a problem of considerable importance. 
The report of the committee is as follows: 
SCIENCE. 
L174 
The Committee appointed to consider the propo=- 
sition offered by some of the members of the Amer-- 
ican Society of Naturalists to form a Western Branch: 
of this Society (See Records of A. S. N., p. 29) submit: 
the following recommendations for the action of the 
Society : 
1. The American Society of Naturalists appreciates 
the desire of some of the Western members to form a 
Society of the Central States and, furthermore, ap- 
preciates the motives of the members to make this 
new Society a branch of the American Society of 
Naturalists. It is doubtful, however, if it will be 
possible to form such a branch, and if such a society 
is formed, we believe it should be as a distinct 
organization having its own officers, control of its own 
finances and the publishing of its own records. 
2. The original intention of the Society of Natural- 
ists was a good one, but we believe that it was unfor- 
tunate in changing its name from ‘ Society of Natur- 
alists of the Eastern United States’ to ‘ American 
Society of Naturalists’ and in limiting the meetings. 
to the Eastern United States. We recommend, there- 
fore, that the original name be readopted in place of 
the present name. We believe this action would 
tend to facilitate the formation of similar societies, if 
desired, in different parts of the United States, and 
be in accord with the inception principles of this 
Society. 
3. It is further recommended, in order to strengthen 
the work of naturalists in the United States, and so 
add to the influence of the whole body of naturalists 
in this country, that, if a Society of Naturalists of the 
Central United States be formed, or any similar 
society, if possible, each society appoint delegates to 
tepresent it at the Annual Meeting of the Sister 
Society ; that the Executive Committee of the one co- 
operate with the Executive Committee of the other 
for united effort in contributing to the support of 
different objects such as the Naples and Wood’s Holl 
Biological Stations ; and that the societies extend to 
each other mutual privileges and courtesies such as : 
(a) Change in membership from one society to the 
other by approval of the Executive Board of both 
societies; (b) Admission of members of both so- 
cieties to the meetings of either society, with enjoy- 
ment of certain privileges such as the reading of 
papers, taking part in the discussions and participa- 
tion in such other matters as may be deemed ad- 
visable. 
SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS. 
Mr. JoseEPH WHITE SPRAGUE, of Louisville, 
Ky., who died recently in Switzerland, left a 
. will that should ultimately greatly benefit the 
