September 28, 1906.] 



SCIENCE. 



413 



The paper, which covers 64 pages, includes 

 a ten-page structural and historical introduc- 

 tion, followed by a key to the species of Chara. 

 Following the key are full descriptions of all 

 of the species, with the type locality, distribu- 

 tion, illustrations and exsiccatae for each spe- 

 cies. Suggestive critical notes are appended 

 in many cases, adding much to the value of 

 this important contribution to our knowledge 

 of this interesting group of plants. 



A MOSS BOOK. 



Some weeks ago Part III. of Dr. Grout's 

 * Mosses with Hand-lens and Microscope ' 

 came to hand, continuing the work from page 

 167 to 246. In this part we have the comple- 

 tion of the family Tortulaceae, and the treat- 

 ment in succession of Encalyptaceae, Ortho- 

 trichaceae, Schisfostegaceae, Splanchnaceae^ 

 Funariaceae, Meeseaceae, Timmiaceae, Aulo- 

 comniaceae, Bartramiaceae, Bryaceae and 

 Lesheaceae. The two families to which the 

 most space is given are OrthotricTiaceae and 

 Bryaceae, which together take up more than 

 half of the pages of this part. The illustra- 

 tions and text maintain the high standard set 

 by the author in the two preceding parts. 

 The statement is made that two more parts 

 will complete this important and very useful 

 work. Charles E. Bessey. 



The Univebsity of Nebraska. 



CENTRAL BUILDING OF IOWA STATE COL- 

 LEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND 

 MECHANIC ARTS. 



On June 8, 1906, the new central building 

 of the Iowa State College of Agriculture and 

 Mechanic Arts was dedicated. Hon. W. J. 

 Dixon, in speaking of the construction of the 

 building, said: 



The building is 216 feet long by 112 feet in 

 depth. Floor area 98,000 square feet. The build- 

 ipg contains 1,892,738 cubic feet of materials. 

 The base is of Georgia granite and the outer walls 

 of Bedford stone. The roof is tile set in concrete. 

 Construction is fire-proof throughout. The plumb- 

 ing, heating and lighting is of the most approved 

 modern systems. The cost of the completed build- 

 ing is $375,000. 



The architects were Proudfoot & Bird, of Des 

 Moines; the builder was Henry W. Schleuter, and 

 the superintendent of construction was Dean An- 

 son Marston. The furniture cost $S2,000. 



The commencement address was made by 

 Dr. F. W. Gunsaulus, of Chicago. The fol- 

 lowing number of degrees were conferred: 

 B.S.A., 34; D.V.M., 4; B.M.E., 19; B.C.E., 

 27; B.S. in E.E., 21; B.S. in Min.E., 8; B.S., 

 14, three men and eleven women; M.S.A., 6; 

 C.E., 1; M.S., 2; B.D.S., 1. One honorary 

 degree of M.Ph. 



At a meeting of the board of trustees on 

 June 1, R. Earle Buchanan was made assist- 

 ant professor of general bacteriology and 

 Estelle D. Fogel was made instructor in 

 botany. 



The following departments have rooms in 

 the new central building: English, history, 

 mathematics, civics, economic science, modern 

 languages, elocution and oratory. There are 

 also general offices for the board and the sec- 

 retary, the purchasing committee, the presi- 

 dent and faculty, and a reception room, treas- 

 urer's office, and the rooms of the department 

 of botany. The departihent of botany occu- 

 pies most of the upper floor and the attic story. 



L. H. Pammel. 



SIR WILLIAM PERKIN AND THE AMERICAN 

 JUBILEE OF THE COAL TAR INDUSTRY. 



We have already noted the British celebra- 

 tion in commemoration of the fiftieth anni- 

 versary of the discovery of the dye-stuff mauve 

 by Sir William Perkin. American chemists 

 decided to celebrate the foundation of the coal 

 tar industry independently, and Sir William 

 Perkin and Lady Perkin left Liverpool on the 

 Umhria, on September 22, to be present at a 

 banquet which will be given at Delmonico's, 

 on October 6. 



The American committee submitted to a 

 public meeting, held May 28, 1906, the fol- 

 lowing program : (1) To invite Sir William 

 Perkin to be present at the American celebra- 

 tion as the guest of the Americans. (2) The 

 presentation to Sir William Perkin of a per- 

 sonal token. (3) The foundation of a Perkin 

 medal to be awarded annually to an American 

 chemist for distingtiished work in applied 



