196 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XV. No. 370. 



have been local and the results attained, while 

 creditable, have not been such as could be 

 legitimately expected from a stronger and 

 more widely extended organization. With all 

 geographers in America united, influence in 

 favor of exploration could be brought to bear 

 upon legislative bodies which would command 

 attention. 



PLAN OP REORGANIZATION. 



To attain the desirable ends referred to 

 above, the following plan for uniting the ex- 

 isting geographical societies into one organiza- 

 tion, with power to increase its membership 

 and broaden its efficiency, is proposed for dis- 

 cussion : 



Let each of the existing societies become a 

 section of the new organization to be known 

 as the American Geographical Society. Each 

 section to manage its own affairs, independent- 

 ly, have its own officers, its own property, etc., 

 but pay a sum, in proportion to its member- 

 ship, in support of the magazine to be pub- 

 lished by the united sections. 



All members of the various sections to be 

 fellows of the larger organization, and at their 

 annual meeting to elect a president, secretaries, 

 treasurer and editor. The president of each of 

 the various sections to be ex officio vice-presi- 

 dent of the main society. 



The various sections to choose their own 

 names, but it is to be hoped these names 

 would be geographical, as for example, Boston 

 Section, New York Section, Washington Sec- 

 tion, San Francisco Section, etc., of the Amer- 

 ican Geographical Society. Such a broadening 

 and enlargement of aims would be a compli- 

 ment to the Society now bearing the name 

 which it is desirable should be given to the 

 representative Society of the two Americas. 



The arguments for a truly American geo- 

 graphical society are far greater than I have 

 attempted to show. The objections to the 

 plan outlined seem to refer entirely to local 

 pride or, more accurately, local self-interest. 

 That the existing societies should be proud 

 of the results they have attained and love 

 their present methods is not only natural, but 

 commendable. A broader view, however, must 

 convince one that each local society by union 

 with all other similar societies in America, 



without losing its own individuality, would 

 bring to itself renewed strength and vigor. 



My aim in presenting this outline of a 

 method by which all students of geography in 

 America may be induced to cooperate and mu- 

 tually assist in enlarging the boundaries of 

 geographical knowledge, is to invite discus- 

 sion. I am sure that the editor of Science 

 will give space for the expression of the opinion 

 of any one in this connection. I wish espe- 

 cially to invite the Council of each existing 

 society to discuss this matter and express its 

 views. If we c^n arrange for a meeting of 

 delegates from each society, a mutual agree- 

 ment beneficial to all can no doubt be reached. 

 This should be done in time to effect a reor- 

 ganization before the convening of the Inter- 

 national Geographical Congress. 



Israel C. Eussell. 



Ann Arbor, Mich., 

 Jan. 13, 1902. 



THE INTERNATIONAL CENTBALBLATT FOB 

 BOTANY. 



As we have already noted the president of 

 the Association Internationale des Botanistes 

 has appointed the following American editors 

 for the Botanisches C entralhlatt : 



D. H. Campbell, Stanford University, Califor- 

 nia, 'Morphology.' 



C. J. Chamberlain, University of Chicago, 

 ' Cytology.' 



D. T. MacDougal, New York Botanical Garden, 

 ' Physiology.' 



G. T. Moore, Department of Agriculture, Wash- 

 ington, D. C, 'Algae, Lichens, Archegoniates ' 

 ( systematic ) . 



D. P. Penhallow, McGill University, Montreal, 

 ' Paleobotany.' 



H. von Schrenk, Washington University, St. 

 Louis, Mo., 'Fimgi (systematic) and Vegetable 

 Pathology.' 



Wm. Trelease, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. 

 Louis, Mo., ' Phanerogams ' ( systematic ) . 



For the coordination of the editorial work,, 

 the two editors last named have been asked to- 

 serve respectively as secretary and chairman 

 of the American Board. 



Professor William Trelease, chairman of 

 the Board has sent out the following direc- 

 tions, which we quote as of interest to all work- 

 ers in science. 



