718 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXIV. No. 623. 



six stations, all in latitude 39° 08' north, 

 and surrounding the pole. In 1906, two 

 stations in the southern hemisphere were 

 established, in Argentina and in Australia. 

 The observations at all of these eight sta- 

 tions will be continued at least until 1909. 

 The accuracy with which the motion of the 

 pole is followed by these observations may 

 be inferred from the fact that Kimura 

 writes with confidence that the movement 

 having a period of 0.75 year exists, though 

 its total amplitude is apparently 0.06" (6 

 feet) or less. 



By a formal resolution, transmitted to it 

 in advance of this meeting, the association 

 was asked by the International Association 

 of Academies in what way it could sustain 

 or promote international cooperation in 

 the following two matters: {A) Leveling 

 of precision in chains of mountains sub- 

 ject to earthquake, with a view of deter- 

 mining whether such chains are subject to 

 changes in elevation; (B) measurements of 

 the value of gravity for the purpose of 

 throwing light upon the internal distribu- 

 tion of terrestrial masses and upon the 

 rigidity or isostasy of the crust of the 

 earth. This resolution is the result of ac- 

 tion taken at the International Geological 

 Congress, held in "Vienna in 1903. 



A special report on that part of the reso- 

 lution which refers to leveling was, by re- 

 quest, prepared in advance by Lallemand 

 of France. He set forth the rather dis- 

 couraging past experience in this line and 

 indicated the essential difficulties of the 

 problem. He reported that determina- 

 tions of the stability of the ground by 

 means of precise leveling, repeated at long 

 intervals, should be made in all regions, not 

 simply in chains of mountains subject to 

 ■earthquakes; that ordinarily a general 

 change of elevation of less than one deci- 

 meter can not be detected with certainty; 

 and that each country should repeat the 



leveling, over at least the principal lines 

 of its precise level net, two or three times 

 in each century. 



Darwin, of England, prepared in ad- 

 vance, by request, a report on that portion 

 of the resolution which refers to gravity 

 determinations. He suggested a resolution 

 in reply to the effect that the association 

 welcomes the resolution transmitted to it 

 as showing that geodetic observations 

 throw light on the science of geology, and 

 that the association further desires to im- 

 press on geodesists who may be planning 

 future gravity observations that it is de- 

 sirable that the sites for observation should 

 be chosen with reference to such use of 

 the observations. 



The recommendations made by Messrs. 

 Lallemand and Darwin were incorporated 

 in a resolution passed by the association. 

 At the suggestion of Darwin the resolution, 

 as passed, also definitely recognized that ob- 

 servations of the direction of gravity, that 

 is of defiections of the vertical, may also 

 be used in determining the isostasy or 

 rigidity of the crust of the earth, as well 

 as observations of the intensity of gravity. 



Nearly all of the party lived at the same 

 hotel. Numerous social functions also 

 kept the party together and served to make 

 the delegates acquainted with each other. 

 Among the social functions were a recep- 

 tion by the Archduke Josef, at the Royal 

 Palace, a dinner given by the city of Buda- 

 pest, a dinner given by Count Apponyi, 

 the Minister of Public Instruction, an in- 

 formal dinner given by the delegates in 

 honor of their entertainers, an evening of 

 Hungarian opera and several afternoon ex- 

 cursions. 



The surroundings in which the confer- 

 ence met were especially interesting. It is 

 a surprise to find that Budapest, the Hun- 

 garian capital, is a rapidly growing 

 modern city, with all modern improve- 



