Deckmbkr \>5, 1903.] 



SCIENCE. 



811 



attentitm was. tlierefore, turni'd, in the 

 second place, to the devising of apparatus 

 for the forming of the clay vessels under 

 pressure, with the result that they now 

 possess two pieces of apparatus which work 

 to entire satisfaction. They next pro- 

 ceeded to take up the problem of baking 

 the clay vessels, and devised an electric 

 kiln which was effective and well adapted 

 to general use in the laboratory. They are 

 now ready to begin the making, baking and 

 burning of porous cells. 



A. A. NoYES, JlassacluLsetts Institute of 

 Technology, Boston, JIass. For certain 

 chemical investigations. $2,000. 

 Abstract of lieport.—The work under 

 the direction of Professor Noyes, on the 

 electric conductivity of salts and aqueous 

 solutions at high temperatures, has been in 

 progress for several months, with the assist- 

 ance of Dr. ^Yilliam D. Coolidge. Much 

 of the time has been given to the construc- 

 tion of an effective platinum-lined conduc- 

 tivity cell or bomb, suitable for exact con- 

 ductivity measiu'cmcuts with aqueous solu- 

 tions up to 306° or higher, and in other 

 preparatory work. 



Now that the serious difficulties in the 

 production of the conductivity apparatus, 

 suitable for measurements at high tem- 

 peratures and pressures, have been over- 

 come, and the possibility of obtaining ac- 

 curate results has been demonstrated by a 

 series of determinations extending with a 

 few salts up to 806°, it is highly desirable 

 to extend the measurements to salts of 

 other types and to acids and bases, and to 

 the critical tempei-ature of 360°. This 

 work is very difficult and it will be neces- 

 sary to continue it for a niunber of years 

 before it will be completed. 



Two other researches for w-hich the aid 

 granted was employed were begun in Sep- 

 tember, with the assistance of Dr. Herman 

 (". Cooper and 5Ir. Yogoro Kato. 



TiiEo. \V. Ricu.vRDS. Harvard University. 



For investigation of values of atomic 



weights, etc. $2,500. 



Abstract of Report.— Professor Richards 

 has submitted a memoir about to be pub- 

 lished by the Carnegie Institution, con- 

 taining the records of his experiments on a 

 new method of determining compressibility. 

 By means of this method the compressibili- 

 ties of bromine, iodine, chloroform, bro- 

 moform, carbon tetrachloride, phosphorus, 

 water and glas.s have been determined over 

 a range of 700 atmospheres. 



Besides the continuation of the preceding 

 work, several other investigations are in 

 progress, assisted by this grant. One of 

 these concerns the effect of pressure on the 

 electrochemical solution tension of metals; 

 another concerns the heat capacity of solu- 

 tions, and another concerns the atomic 

 weight of sodium. 



J. Bishop Tingle, Illinois College, Jack- 

 sonville, 111. For continuing investiga- 

 tions on the derivatives of camphor and 

 allied bodies. $500. 

 Abstract of Report.— The work under 

 this grant was not begun till late in the 

 summer. A number of bases have been 

 tested as to their power to undergo con- 

 densation with camphoroxalic acid and its 

 ethylic salt. Experiments have also been 

 made to obtain further information as to 

 the possible presence of hydroxyl groups in 

 camphoroxalic acid, with encouraging re- 

 sults. 



ENGINKERING. 



W. F. DiR.\XD. Cornell University. Ithaca, 

 X. Y. For experiments on ship resist- 

 ance and propulsion. $4,120. 

 Abstract of Report .—Proiessor Durand 

 reports that certain equipment neces.sary 

 for the conduct of the experiments was 

 completed early in the spring. Experi- 

 ments in connection with the work on pro- 

 pellers were bcgiui. and all of the work of 



