August 23, 1889.] 



SCIENCE 



133 



help the farmer, they will secure from him and from the public at 

 large the support they need for their highest work. 



Unquestionably the stations ought to make practical experiments 

 in the study of the problems before them. But in the long-run, 

 those stations will do best that plan their work most philosophi- 

 cally, and the prosperity of the enterprise as a whole will be pro- 

 portioned to its success in the discovering of the laws that underlie 

 the right practice of agriculture. 



In brief, the ultimate success of the stations will depend upon 

 the discovery of principles. This is accomplished only by patient, 

 profound, costly research, no small part of which has to do with 

 the finding-out of the best methods of investigation of special prob- 

 lems. But while this v\'ork is essential, the stations are confronted 

 with the necessity of doing what will directly and immediately help 

 the farmer. The need and value of abstract research are not un- 

 derstood. To show its usefulness and help, prepare the way for 

 the stations to prosecute it, and at the same time do some of the 

 things that are most immediately and pressingly needed in these 

 directions, is one of the important ways in which the department 

 may aid the experiment station enterprise. 



the efforts and sacrifices of the republic for the diffusion of culture. 

 He referred to the moribund condition of the universities on the 

 eve of the Revolution, and the want of cohesion between the col- 

 leges afterwards established, and eulogized the individuality now 

 developed by the provincial universities. 



THE NEW BUILDINGS OF THE SORBONNE, PARIS. 



The people of France have never doubted the utility and necessity 

 of the Sorbonne. During the long and splendid history of the Sor- 

 bonne, to quote from Naiu?-e, they have had ample experience of 

 the value of a great teaching body in the capital ; and the result is 

 that this is one of the institutions in which men of all parties take 

 a common pride. 



So long ago as 1855 it was decided that new buildings for the 

 Sorbonne should be erected, but the scheme was not really com- 

 plete until 1881. It was then estimated that the expense would be 

 22,000,000 francs — a formidable enough sum, but one which 

 caused no serious difficulty, as the city readily undertook to con- 

 tribute half of it. The foundation was laid in 1S85, and now a 

 considerable part of the work is finished. This was opened on 

 Aug. 5, in the presence of President Carnot, and the ceremonies on 

 the occa.sion may be regarded as affording fresh evidence of the 

 enthusiasm felt by educated Frenchmen for all that represents and 

 tends to develop the highest intellectual life of the nation. Every 

 university had been asked to send delegates elected by the students 

 to the celebration ; and the State, and the city of Paris, agreed to 

 look upon them as their guests during the ten days of festivity in 

 honor of science. This part of the programme was well car- 

 ried out, arrangements having been made with different hotels to 

 board and lodge the foreign visitors at the expense of the Hotel de 

 Ville and the Ministry of Public Instruction. Russia and Ger.'nany 

 did not accept invitations, but the universities of Great Britain, of 

 the Scandinavian countries, of Belgium, Holland, Greece, Switzer- 

 land, Italy, Spain, and the United States were represented. There 

 were about 700 delegates from these countries, besides a large 

 number who went at their own expense. 



The exercises began on Sunday evening with a gala performance 

 of " Faust " at the Opera Plouse, which the President attended. 

 On Monday the 5th, 3,000 persons assembled in the new amphi- 

 theatre, an immense hall adorned with frescoes. Each delegation 

 had a standard-bearer carrying the flag of _his nation, and the 

 members of the various groups were warmly greeted by the public 

 as they advanced to the places appointed for them. At 3 o'clock 

 President Carnot arrived, and took his seat on the platform, sur- 

 rounded by ambassadors, statesmen, and academicians. M. Ferry, 

 as the minister who made the arrangements for the enlargement, 

 was much cheered. 



M. Greard, rector of the Academy, made the first speech. He 

 sketched the history of the Paris University, extolled the events of 

 1789, and described study as a common fatherland, which had 

 brought together delegates from nearly all the European and 

 American universities. M. Hermite next reviewed the mathemati- 

 cal teaching of the Sorbonne since 180S. M. Chautemps. President 

 of the Municipality, vindicated democracy from the imputation of 

 indifference to culture, and claimed credit for the body represented 

 by him for having founded a chair of French revolution history and 

 a chair of evolution. M. Fallieres, Minister of Education, dwelt on 



THE MARINE CONFERENCE AT WASHINGTON. 



The following is the programme of subjects to be considered at 

 the International Marine Conference which will meet at Washing- 

 ton on Oct. 16 of this year. 



In General Division i will be considered marine signals or other 

 means of plainly indicating the direction in which vessels are mov- 

 ing in fog, mist, falling snow, and thick weather, and at night ; 

 also rules for the prevention of collisions and rules of the road : — 



1. Visibility, number, and position of lights to be carried by ves- 

 sels, — {a) steamers under way; (d) steamers towing; (c) vessels 

 under way, but not under command, including steamers laying ca- 

 ble ; {(i) sailing vessels under way ; {e) sailing vessels towing ; (/) 

 vessels at anchor ; {g) pilot vessels ; (h) fishing vessels. 



2. Sound signals, their character, number, range, and position of 

 instruments, — {a) for use in fog, mist, falling snow, and thick 

 weather as position signals; for steamers under way ; for steamers 

 towing ; for sailing vessels under way ; for sailing vessels towing 

 (these signals to show the approximate course steered, if possible); 

 for vessels at anchor ; for vessels under way, but not under com- 

 mand, including steamers laying cable ; (b) for use in all weathers 

 as helm signals only ; for st-eamers meeting or crossing ; for steam- 

 ers overtaking; for steamers backing; {c) whether helm signals 

 shall be made compulsory or remain optional. 



3. Steering and sailing rules, — (a) sailing vessels meeting, cross- 

 ing, overtaking, or being overtaken by each other ; {b) steamers 

 meeting, crossing, overtaking, or being overtakeTlf by each other ; 

 (c) sailing vessels meeting, crossing, overtaking, or being overtaken 

 by steamers ; {d) steamers meeting, crossing, overtaking, or being 

 overtaken by sailing vessels ; (<?) special rules for channels and 

 tideways where no local rules exist ; (/) conflict of international 

 rules ; {g) uniform systems of commands to the helm ; {k) speed 

 of vessels in thick weather. 



In General Division 2 consideration will be given to regulations 

 to determine the seaworthiness of vessels, — {a) construction of 

 vessels, (b) equipment of vessels, {c) discipline of crew, (d) suffi- 

 ciency of crew, {e) inspection of vessels, (/) uniform certificates of 

 inspection ; in General Division 3 attention will be paid to the ' 

 draught to which vessels should be restricted when loaded, and 

 uniform maximum load mark; and in General Division 4 will be 

 discussed uniform regulations regarding the designating and mark- 

 ing of vessels, — {a) position of name on vessels, {b) position of 

 name of port of registry on vessels, {c) size of lettering, and {d) 

 uniform system of draught marks. 



In General Division 5 saving life and property from shipwreck 

 will be considered: — 



I.- Saving of life and property from shipwreck at sea, — {a) du- 

 ties of vessels after collision ; {b) apparatus for life-saving to be 

 carried on board ship (life-boats, life-preservers, life-rafts, pumps, 

 and fire-extinguishing apparatus); (c) the use of oil and the neces- 

 sary appaiatus for its use ; (d) uniform inspection as to (b) and (c). ■ 



2. Saving of life and property from shipwreck by operations from 

 shore, — (a) organization of and methods employed by life-saving 

 institutions ; {b) the employment of drilled and disciplined crews of 

 life-saving institutions; {c) the maintenance of a patrol upon dan- 

 gerous coasts by night and during thick weather by day, for warn- 

 ing off vessels standing in danger, and for the early discovery of 

 wrecks ; (d) uniform means of transmitting information between 

 stranded vessels and the shore; (f) life-boats, life-saving apparatus, 

 and appliances. 



3. Official inquiries into causes and circumstances of shipwrecks 

 aud other casualties. 



In General Division 6 will come, necessary qualifications for 

 officers and seamen, including tests for sight and color blindness, 

 — (a) a uniform system of examination for the different grades; 

 (/;) uniform tests for visual power and color blindness ; (c) general 

 knowledge of methods employed at life-saving stations; {d) uni- 



