826 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXVIII. No. ! 



the skeletal bones are those of Arceoscelis, as 

 he himself suspected. It is unnecessary to add 

 that his conclusions, based upon erroneous 

 premises, are wholly incorrect. Arceoscelis is 

 as widely separated from Bolosaurus as 

 is any other known American Permian reptile, 

 at least so far as can be judged from the 

 slcull as Dr. Broom has restored it. 



S. W. WiLLISTOS" 



University op Chicago, 

 November 8, ]9]3 



THE CONVENTION OF GEOLOGISTS AND 

 MINING ENGINEERS 



In connection with the National Conserva- 

 tion Exposition conducted in Knoxville, Ten- 

 nessee, during September and October, there 

 was held a meeting of geologists and mining 

 engineers for the purpose of discussing prob- 

 lems connected with the conservation of the 

 natural resources of our country and especially 

 of the south. Delegates were present from 

 most of the southern states and many from 

 the north and west. 



The papers and discussions were of a high 

 order and it is hoped that arrangements can 

 be made to have these in print at an early 

 date. Following are the titles of papers read: 



"Economic Non-metallic Minerals of the South- 

 ern States, ' ' by Dr. J. Hyde Pratt. 



' ' Inventory of the Mineral Eesourees of 

 Georgia," by S. W. McCallie. 



"Conservation as Applied to Mining Lime Phos- 

 phates," by E. H. Sellards. 



"The Regulation of Oil and Gas Wells, Espe- 

 cially When Drilled Through Coal Seams," by 

 Eichard B. Hice. 



"The Iron Kesources of the World," by Dr. E. 

 A. Schubert. 



"Possible Dangers to Mines in Drilling for Oil 

 and Gas in the Coal Measures," by Edward Bar- 

 rett. '^ 



"The State Geologist and Conservation," by 

 Dr. A. H. Purdue. (Bead by title.) 



' ' Oregon Problems of Eesource Development, ' ' 

 by H. N. Lawrie. 



"Eolations of the Forest Service to the Conser- 

 vation of Mineral Eesourees of Mineral Lands, ' ' 

 by Don Carlos Ellis. 



' ' Soil Survey and Conservation vs. Soil Mining, ' ' 

 by H. A. Hard. 



' ' The Conservation of Natural Gas in the Mid 

 Continent Field," by C. N. Gould. 



"Gypsum and Salt Deposits of Southwest Vir- 

 ginia," "by F. A. Wilder. (Bead by title.) 



' ' Scenic Beauty and Its Variation as Influ- 

 enced by Geological Origin, ' ' by George F. 

 Kunz. (Bead by title.) 



' ' Sane Development of the Mineral Eesourees of 

 the South," by E. J. Watson. (Bead by title.) 



C. H. Gordon was elected chairman of the 

 convention and F. W. DeWolf, state geologist 

 of Illinois, secretary. 



The following resolutions were adopted: 



Whereas, The burden of classification of our 

 public domain rests heavily, and perhaps unjustly, 

 on the applicant desiring to title such lands, and 



Whereas, Many conflicting interests with the 

 consequent loss and embarrassment to the land and 

 mineral claimant results from an absence of ade- 

 quate classification of the federal domain, and 



Whereas, There are not sufficient funds avail- 

 able for the purpose of expediting the work of 

 classifying the federal domain, and 



Whereas, It is recommended by this convention 

 of geologists and engineers assembled at the 

 National Conservation Exposition, at Knoxville, 

 Tennessee, September 19, 1913, that this work be 

 accelerated, and that the same should be compre- 

 hensive so as to include the possibilities of agricul- 

 ture, timber, hydro-electric and mineral develop- 

 ment and, if practicable, simultaneously; be it 

 therefore 



Besolved, That we, the members of the conven- 

 tion of geologists and engineers assembled, me- 

 morialize Congress of the United States to increase 

 this appropriation sufficiently to enable the work 

 as herein noted to be carried out efficiently by the 

 Departments of the Interior and Agriculture. 



Whereas, There has been an extended argument 

 concerning the merits of state versus federal con- 

 trol of the national forests; and 



Whereas, The Oregon Conservation Commission 

 has made an exhaustive study of this subject, 

 which resulted in their conclusion in favor of fed- 

 eral ownership; be it therefore 



Besolved, That we, the members of this conven- 

 tion of geologists and mining engineers, assembled 

 at this National Conservation Exposition at Knox- 

 ville, Tennessee, September 19, 1913, do hereby en- 

 dorse the findings of the Oregon Conservation Com- 

 mission in favor of the federal ownership of the 

 national forests. 



