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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLII. No. 1084 



last but not least in the work of the body 

 of talented young men and women who are 

 now entering science from the two great 

 universities and other educational institu- 

 tions of the state. In no other region is the 

 outlook for the advancement of science 

 more encouraging. 



The admirable handbook "Nature and 

 Science on the Pacific Coast," written in 

 collaboration by thirty-one specialists, was 

 quite widely distributed prior to as well as 

 at the meeting and thoroughly prepared 

 the members of the association for the gen- 

 eral understanding of the geography, the 

 history, the geology and physiography, 

 the climate, the past and present animal 

 and plant life, the economic and educa- 

 tional development of California. The 

 preparation of this booklet was a felicitous 

 idea and it developed into a most tasteful 

 and interesting volume under the chairman- 

 ship of Professor John C. Merriam. Sim- 

 ilarly Director George Otis Smith of the 

 United States Geological Survey prepared 

 for the westward journey of members of 

 the association by projecting a series of 

 historic and geologic guidebooks of the 

 western United States, one for each of the 

 great transcontinental railway routes. The 

 first of these volumes, which is entitled 

 "Part B, The Overland Route with a Side 

 Trip to Yellowstone Park," written by 

 Messrs. Lee, Stone, Gale and others of the 

 survey, furnished a guide along the Union 

 and Southern Pacific Railways from Omaha 

 west. These several volumes can not be too 

 highly praised; beside affording a clear 

 introduction to the scientific aspects of the 

 country en route they contain a great deal 

 of information of permanent value. 



We do not recall any previous meeting 

 of the association for which such prolonged, 

 intelligent and self-sacrificing attention has 

 been devoted to preparation, to the scien- 

 tific programs and to the scientific excur- 



sions. The whole endeavor was worthy 

 both of the memorable event which took the 

 association to California and of the very 

 high scientific standards which have been 

 established in the state. This preparation 

 also reflected the very cordial spirit of 

 cooperation which now unites scientific men 

 of all parts of the Pacific coast. Those of 

 us from other states who were fortunate 

 enough to be present at this admirably 

 planned meeting can hardly find words to 

 express our appreciation of the labors of 

 the various committees, which were com- 

 posed of many of the leading men and 

 women of the Pacific coast states as well as 

 of our eastern possessions in the Pacific, 

 Hawaii and the Philippines. 



Among the leaders during two years of 

 almost unceasing preparation were the 

 president of the association, Director W. W. 

 Campbell of the Lick Observatory, who 

 served as chairman of the executive com- 

 mittee as well as of the Pacific Coast com- 

 mittee, the latter committee including most 

 of the prominent scientific men of the Pa- 

 cific Coast states. Another very active 

 member was Professor Merriam, paleontol- 

 ogist of the University of California, who 

 ably cooperated with President Campbell 

 for the general welfare of the association 

 but especially in the arrangement of the 

 programs of the Geological and Paleonto- 

 logical Societies. The newly elected presi- 

 dent of Stanford University, Professor 

 John C. Branner, served as the head of the 

 committee on scientific program. Among 

 the many ladies who took an active inter- 

 est in the social features of the meeting 

 may be mentioned Mrs. Phoebe Apperson 

 Hearst, long a patroness of science on the 

 Pacific coast, who took the title of honorary 

 president of the general committee and 

 gave a delightful afternoon reception at the 

 Hacienda del Pozo de Verona near Pleasan- 

 ton. 



