62 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIII. No. 837 



gliders with a large number of superposed 

 planes, but the type finally adopted was a bi- 

 plane glider furnished with a smallish balanc- 

 ing tail. Although balance was, as a rule, 

 maintained by moving the body, Chanute 

 embodied in his apparatus the principle of a 

 flexible framework, which thus paved the way 

 for the Wright Brothers' " warping " devices 

 and similar arrangements for <the recovery of 

 balance and counteraction of instability, 

 which form such a noteworthy feature of 

 modern aeroplanes. The glides made with his 

 machines were remarkably successful, and, the 

 practising grounds being among sand dunes, 

 no fatalities ensued. Chanute was the author 

 of a number of papers and reviews dealing 

 with the flight problem, and the Wright 

 Brothers, the late Captain Ferber, and nu- 

 merous other aviators were indebted to him for 

 much valuable assistance. 



The following statement, concerning the 

 University of Wisconsin, appeared in the re- 

 publican party platform of that state : 



We are proud of the high eminence attained by 

 our state university. We attribute its advance- 

 ment both to the able and courageous guidance 

 of its president and faculty and to the progressive 

 and enlightened character of the citizenship that 

 sustains it. We commend its work, illustrated 

 by what has been accomplished in agricultural 

 and dairy affairs, conserving our natural resources 

 which have effected a saving of millions of dollars 

 annually to the people of our state. We also com- 

 mend its investigations for the improvement of the 

 relations of men to one another. We regard the 

 university as the people's servant, carrying knowl- 

 edge and assistance to the homes and farms and 

 workshops, and inspiring the youth toward indi- 

 vidual achievement and good citizenship. We 

 recognize that its service to the state, through 

 investigations in agriculture, industrial and so- 

 cial institutions, depends upon its freedom to find 

 the truth and make it known, and we pledge the 

 republican party to the policy of academic free- 

 dom so well expressed by the board of regents in 

 1894, when they declared : " Whatever may be the 

 limitations which trammel inquiry elsewhere, we 

 believe that the great State University of Wis- 

 consin should ever encourage that continual and 

 fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the 

 truth can be found." 



VNIVERSITT AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS 



An alumnus, who does not wish his name 

 disclosed, has given $100,000 to the University 

 of Pennsylvania for the endowment of a chair 

 of physiological chemistry. It will be known 

 as the " Benjamin Rush chair of physiological 

 chemistry." Dr. Alonzo E. Taylor, formerly 

 of the University of California, will be the 

 first occupant of the chair. 



The University of Vermont has received 

 $67,965 from the Rockefeller Foundation, rep- 

 resenting the first instalment of a gift of 

 $100,000 made to the university on condition 

 that an additional $400,000 be raised. The 

 $400,000 has now been subscribed and the 

 amount $271,000 has been collected. The half 

 million dollars is to be added to the endow- 

 ment fund for the general uses of the uni- 

 versity. 



Mr. Willum Blodgett has given to Colum- 

 bia University two farms near Fishkill, N. Y., 

 to be used in connection with the work in 

 agriculture. 



The mining engineering building of the 

 University of North Dakota is being enlarged 

 and the interior remodeled in response to an 

 imperative demand for more room. The roof 

 has been raised, materially adding to the 

 light, floor space and utility of the technical 

 museum. Adjoining the museum, which is 

 in the center of the building, there is to be 

 at one end a large preparation room for the 

 curator and at the other a mineral stock room. 

 The laboratories on the first and second floors 

 have been readjusted to provide better facili- 

 ties for the classes in analytical chemistry and 

 metallurgy as well as for research work in ore 

 treatment, coals and clays. The newly-estab- 

 lished ceramic department is being equipped 

 with general clay working and pottery ma- 

 chinery. 



Columbia University, according to the offi- 

 cial catalogue which has just been published, 

 has this year a registration of 7,429 students. 

 The vast majority of these are in the graduate 

 and professional faculties, the undergraduate 

 and scientific departments having a total 

 registration of 1,456. Nearly every depart- 

 ment of the university shows an increase of 



