444 
and the encouragement of social intercourse 
among men of practical science. It is proposed 
to publish proceedings, to maintain a library 
and a collection of drawings and models. 
A NATURAL Science Association was organ- 
ized in Jersey on August 5th, with Dr. A. C. 
Goodfrey as the first President. 
THE French Society of Civil Engineers ap- 
pointed some time since a committee to con- 
sider the propositions that have been made for 
the decimalization of time and angles. This 
committee has made its report adverse to the 
proposed reform but recommending the num- 
bering of the hours of a day continuously up to 
twenty-four. 
In connection with the Brussels Exposition 
there was held an International Congress of Com- 
merce and Industries from September 7th to 11th. 
THE library at Massillon, Ohio, has recently 
received generous gifts. The residence of the 
late Mr. Nahum Russell, valued at $80,000, has 
been presented to the city by his daughters, 
and Mr. J. W. MeClymonds has given an en- 
dowment fund of $20,000. 
TuE British ‘blue-book,’ recently issued re- 
lating to the nature and extent of the trade of 
Australia and adjacent colonies, contains some 
interesting and useful information for American 
manufacturers. It appears that, in New Zea- 
land, for example, Germany and Belgium, not 
Great Britain, send in the greater part of the 
supply of firearms. Glassware comes from 
Belgium; saws, almost exclusively, from the 
United States. Axes come exclusively from 
the United States, and carpenters’ hammers 
from the same source mainly, though England 
still furnishes the heavier and ruder sorts, such 
as are used by blacksmiths and machinists. 
Germany and Belgium supply nails, and the 
former is gradually encroaching upon the mar- 
ket for machine tools, formerly controlled by 
England. All the agricultural machinery is 
furnished by the manufacturers of the United 
States, who produce the most remarkable com- 
bination of lightness and strength, and yet sell 
at lower prices than even Continental nations 
can yet attain. The reasons for Great Britain’s 
‘temporary decline’ are said to be: Conserya- 
tism, lack of versatilty and adaptability, dis- 
SCIENCE. 
[N. S. Vou. VI. No. 142. 
dain of methods successfully adopted by com- 
peting vendors, stringency in calling for pay- 
ment and ‘a general haughtiness in trading 
transactions.’ As one of the London trade 
papers says: ‘‘ When a wealthy London cor- 
poration builds and equips a London railroad 
with American plant itis time for English manu- 
facturers to see themselves as others see them.’’ 
Ir is stated in Machinery that Acetylene is 
now in use in several of the Paris omnibuses. 
The generator weighs about 29 lb., and is carried 
under the front steps. Each load ‘of carbide 
is about 0.71 lb., and produces about 3 cubic 
feet of gas, which is enough for 6} hours, with 
a light of 16 candles. The pressure is regu- 
lated so as not to exceed 4 inches of water. 
The cost is less than that of petroleum. Elec- 
trical- accumulators to do the same work 
weighed nearly 3 ewt., and did mischief, so that 
they were glad to give them up. 
THE Philosophical Review, edited by President 
Schurman and Professors J. E. Creighton and 
James Seth, of Cornell University, and pub- 
lished since its foundation by Ginn & Co., will 
next year be published by The Macmillan Com- 
pany. 
THE Principles of Sociology, by Professor 
Franklin H. Giddings, of Columbia University, 
of which a third edition has recently been 
published by The Macmillan Company, has 
been translated into French and German, and 
a Spanish translation is announced for early 
publication. 
VOLUME two of the Maryland Geological Sur- 
vey Reports, which will contain a description 
of the building and decorative stones of the 
State, is well advanced and will be issued the 
coming winter. 
PRESIDENT C. G. Wixson, of the New York 
Board of Health, has made a report showing 
the remarkable decrease in the death-rate of 
New York City since 1823. Figures for the 
first eight months for each of the last six years. 
Deaths, 
Estimated Jan. to Aug., Death 
Population. inclusive. rate 
UB sonanc0 1,758,010 31,982 27.3 
ER ooa nous 1,809,353 29)397 24.4 
SOS merteretaste 1,879,195 30,699 24.5 
SSO Gveretetereets 1,934,077 30,307 23.5 
1897........ 1,990,562 26,866 20.2 
