APRIL 5, 1901.] 
United States there will be $50,000, the same 
as for the present year, but an increase as com- 
pared with former years. 
The appropriation for gauging streams and 
determining the water supply of the United 
States, including the investigation of under- 
ground currents in arid and semi-arid sections 
is likewise the same as this year—$100,000. 
With a view to meeting as far as possiblea 
very strong demand from the people for an 
extension of the hydrographic work of the 
Survey, there was practical unanimity in Con- 
gress in favor of a large increase in the allow- 
ance for this work. The increase was provided 
for in the form of an amendment to the 
River and Harbor Bill, and hence, like many 
other items covering meritorious objects, it 
went down to defeat in the last hour of the 
session with that now famous measure. 
Other items under the appropriation are for 
engraving and printing, preparation of illustra- 
tions, rent of quarters, ete. There is $12,- 
000 for furniture for a new addition to the 
Survey building in Washington. 
Congress also granted upwards of $15,000 to 
cover deficiencies for the current year. 
SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS. 
Dr. CHARLES F. CHANDLER, professor of 
chemistry in Columbia University, has been ap- 
pointed by the President a member of the Board 
of Visitors of the U. S. Naval Observatory, in 
the place of Mr. Clair McKelway, of Brook- 
lyn, who did not accept the position. 
THREE expert geologists from the U. S. Geo- 
logical Survey have been detailed to make a 
geologic and mineral reconnaissance of the 
Island of Cuba. They are Dr. ©. Willard 
Hayes, Mr. T. Wayland Vaughan and Mr. A. 
C. Spencer. Mr. Spencer has not yet started 
from Washington, but Messrs. Hayes and 
Vaughan have already reached the island and 
taken up their work, after conference with the 
military governor. It is expected that these 
geologists will accomplish results of distinct 
economic value to the island. The assignment 
of these United States geologists to work in 
Cuba is made at the request of Major-General 
Wood, the military governor, and of Secretary 
SCIENCE. 
555 
of War Root, and is with the approval of Sec- 
retary of the Interior Hitchcock. The ex- 
penses will be met by the Cuban Government. 
Proressor 8. M. BABcock of the University 
of Wisconsin, inventor of the Babcock milk test, 
was, on March 27th, presented with a medal, 
voted him by the State for giving his inven- 
tions free to the world. Exercises were held 
in the Assembly Chamber of the Capitol in the 
presence of both Houses of the Legislature, the 
university faculty, Supreme Court, university 
regents and many prominent citizens of the 
State. Governor Lafollete presided and ad- 
dresses were made by him, by ex-Governor W. 
D. Hoard and others. 
AN influential committee has been formed in 
Italy to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of 
Professor Paul Mantegazza’s entrance on his 
career as a teacher. This event will be cele- 
brated at Florence on April. 30th, and at the 
same time the thirtieth anniversary of the 
Italian Society of Anthropology. Itis proposed 
to collect asum of money to be used for the en- 
dowment of the new laboratory of anthropom- 
etry which Professor Mantegazza has established 
at Florence. 
THE University of Aberdeen is about to con- 
fer the honorary degree of LL.D. on Professor 
Virchow, of Berlin, and on Major Alfred W. 
Alcock, superintendent of the Indian Museum, 
Calcutta, and professor of zoology in the Medi- 
cal College of that city. 
PrRoFEssorR C. LioyD MorGan gave the 
Croonian Lecture before the Royal Society on 
March 21st, the subject being ‘Studies in Visual 
Sensation.’ 
Dr. RICHARD R. WETTSTEIN VON WETTER- 
SHEIM, professor of botany at the University of 
Vienna, has been elected president of the Zoo- 
logical and Botanical Society of Vienna. 
M. Humbert has been elected a member of 
the section of geometry of the Paris Academy 
of Sciences to fill the vacancy caused by the 
death of M. Hermite, and M. Normand has been 
elected a correspondent in the section of geog- 
raphy and navigation in the room of the late 
General de Tillo. 
THE Medical Club of Philadelphia gave a re- 
