SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XIII. No. 309 



SCIENCE 



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The results of the explorations of the Hemenway South- 

 western Archaeological Expedition in 1887-88, under the direction of 

 Frank Hamilton Gushing, promise to be of the greatest importance 

 to our knowledge of ancient America. The plan of the researches 

 is so comprehensive that we may expect they will clear up the his- 

 tory of the natives of the South-west States and Territories and of 

 northern Mexico, — their somatological character as well as the 

 origin and development of their peculiar culture. Mr. S. Baxter, 

 secretary of the expedition, has recently reviewed the most impor- 

 tant results hitherto reached. It has been ascertained that the cul- 

 ture of this region was identical with that of Zuiii. The inhabit- 

 ants of these ancient cities practised an elaborate and thorough 

 system of co-operative river and rain irrigation, and seem to have 

 had a system of canal navigation. They had domesticated ani- 

 mals, notably the turkey, and probably also the rabbit and a variety 

 of the Auchenia, or llama. Mr. Gushing has also found facts which 

 lead him to conclude that an entirely indigenous metallurgic art 

 existed; that the natives knew how to reduce ores by smelting, and 

 how to fuse and braze with terra-cotta and cane blowpipes. These 

 researches are of the greatest value, as they are founded on studies 

 of a surviving branch of the peoples once living in these regions, the 

 customs of which serve as a clew to the finds made in the ruined 

 cities. The final results of the expedition will undoubtedly form 

 the starting-point for investigations into the ancient civilization of 

 America. 



AN AMERIGAN GEOLOGIG SOCIETY. 



With the activity in geologic investigation during the last dec- 

 ade there has grown up among American geologists the feeling 

 that their work should be more fully co-ordinated and unified, and 

 that more frequent opportunities for personal intercourse should be 

 secured. This feeling took definite shape in 1881, when, at the 

 Cincinnati meeting of the American Association, definite movement 

 was made toward the co-ordination of the Federal and State geo- 

 logic surveys, and toward the organization of an American geologic 

 society. 



The efforts of the geologists in attendance at Cincinnati were 

 not, however, seconded by their absent brethren so warmly as to 

 warrant the founding of the proposed society. The plan has since 

 been kept in mind by its promoters, and during the past summer a 

 call was issued for a meeting of geologists interested in the propos- 

 al to form such a society, in Cleveland, on Aug. 14 last. This call 

 was met by a hearty response, and the twoscore of geologists 

 present effected a preliminary organization, adopted a provisional 

 constitution, and appointed a committee to call a subsequent meet- 

 ing and complete the organization. This committee consisted of 

 Professor Alexander Winchell of the University of Michigan ; 

 Professor John J. Stevenson of the University of the City of New 

 York ; Professor Charles H. Hitchcock of Dartmouth ; Professor 

 John R. Proctor, State geologist of Kentucky ; and Professor Ed- 

 ward Orton, State geologist of Ohio. 



The meeting for final organization took place in Sage Hall of 

 Cornell University, at Ithaca, on Dec. 27. The attendance was 

 small, but included representatives of a considerable part of the 

 country. Chairman Winchell of the committee on organization 

 presided ; a list of 102 geologists, engaged in either original inves- 

 tigation or teaching, who had subscribed to the constitution and 

 paid the entrance-fee, was read ; and the provisional constitution 

 prepared at Cleveland was adopted, and the organization thereby 

 rendered complete. The following officers were then elected : 

 president, Professor James Hall, State geologist of New York ; first 

 vice-president. Professor James D. Dana, Yale College ; second 

 vice-president. Professor Alexander Winchell, University of Michi- 

 gan ; secretary. Professor John J. Stevenson, University of the City 

 of New York ; treasurer. Professor Henry S. Williams, Cornell 

 University ; executive council, the above-named officers, and the 

 following fellows at large, — Hon. J. W. Powell (director United 

 States Geological Survey), Professor J. S. Newberry (Columbia 

 College), and Professor C. H. Hitchcock (Dartmouth College). 

 Two committees were appointed as follows : committee on revision 

 of provisional constitution. Professor Alexander Winchell, Professor 

 Henry S. Williams, Professor C. H. Hitchcock, Professor J. J. Ste- 

 venson, and H. L. Fairchild of the University of Rochester ; advi- 

 sory committee on publications. Professor Joseph LeConte (Uni- 

 versity of California), Mr. W. J. McGee (United States Geological 

 Survey), Professor N. H. Winchell (State geologist of Minnesota), 

 Professor I. G. White (University of West Virginia), Professor 

 William M. Davis (Harvard University). 



According to the terms of the provisional constitution, original 

 fellows of the society comprise working and teaching geologists, 

 who, being members or fellows of the American Association, sub- 

 scribe to the constitution and pay the entrance-fee before Jan. I,. 

 1889. In addition to the 102 original fellows thus constituted, six- 

 teen candidates for fellowship were elected at the Cleveland meet- 

 ing. The society thus starts out with a membership of 118, in- 

 cluding nearly every eminent geologist of the United States, and 

 little if any undesirable material, and with a fund (derived wholly 

 from membership-fees) of nearly twelve hundred dollars in the 

 treasury. 



It was the prevailing belief at the meeting that the Geologic So- 

 ciety of America is destined to take rank with the leading organ- 

 izations of related aim in Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria, 

 and other countries ; and that, to maintain the high character with 

 which it starts out, it will be necessary to limit the fellowship, and 

 that the legend indicating fellowship in the society (" F.G.S.A."} 

 should be regarded as an honorary title. But one dissenting voice 

 was raised against the last proposition. 



The meeting of organization was concluded by an eloquent ad- 



