January 13, 1H93.] 



SCIENCE. 



17 



While some mistakes have been made, it is believed that the 

 topographic methods and the apparatus employed are now thor- 

 oughly effective; and that for this reason, and for the further 

 reason that a corps of expert topographers has grown up, this 

 branch of the -work can also be carried forward more expeditiously 

 and economically than ever before. At first most of the work 

 was executed on a scale of four miles to the inch, another part on 

 the scale of two miles to the inch, and only a small part on larger 

 scales ; but the improvement in methods, apparatus, and skill has 

 been such that the surveys can be made on a scale of a mile to the 

 inch at slightly greater cost than the original surveys on a quarter 

 of that scale; and, accordingly, all the surveys of the bureau are 

 now made on the two-mile scale and the one-mile scale, and the 

 four-mile scale has been abandoned. It is proposed to continue 

 the work on these scales, and to give such attention to minor 

 topographic details as to yield a good topographic map of the en- 

 tire country, which, while neither geodetic nor cadastral, will 

 serve as a satisfactory basis for geologic surveys and for a wide 

 variety of industrial purposes. 



In geologic surveying, and thus in the preparation of the geo- 

 logic map of the United States, the work is rapidly passing fiom 

 the preliminary stage of research to the effective stage of applied 

 science ; and it is believed that the methods developed are so far 

 satisfactory as to warrant a definite working plan for the future. 

 This plan includes a system of rock classification and a system of 

 map conventions based thereon by which widely applicable and 

 useful distinctions may be made. It includes also a system of 

 arranging the atlas-sheets constituting sections of the geologic 

 map of the United States provided for by the statute, and the 

 accompanying descriptive text in atlas folios designed for con- 

 venient distribution and use. Each atlas folio is inclosed in a 

 cover bearing a suitable title and a key-map locating the ailas- 

 sheet, and each contains a copy of the topographic sheet without 

 geologic colors; a second copy colored by formations; athird copy 

 colored by groups with structure sections introduced; a fourth 

 copy colored by formations of economic value and showing also 

 the locations of mines and industrial establ shments depending on 

 mineral resources; in the glaciated regions a fifth copy showing 

 superficial formations and their resources; and sometimes addi- 

 tional sheets giving columnar sections and other illustrations of 

 the region. The accompanying text includes an elementary ex- 

 planation of the atlas, a general sketch of the geologic province, 

 and a special description of the area covered by the sheet. Fur- 

 thermore, the plan contemplates the extension of the geologic 

 surveys from the regions of complex structure, in which the classi- 

 fications were developed, into regions of simpler structure, in 

 which more rapid progress may be anticipated. Moreover, since 

 a corps of experts has now been trained in the methods and the 

 classification developed in the bureau, and since these experts 

 are now ready to extend operations into the rich mining regions 

 and other important fields in which premature work would have 

 been unwise, it is planned to strengthen this technical work and 

 thus to enhance the economic value of the geologic map without 

 detracting from its scientific character. 



The purpose of our statesmen in instituting the Geological Sur- 

 vey was to enable those engaged in mining and related ndustries 

 to exploit our mineral resources safely and econotnifally. It has 

 always been recognized that mineral resources depend on rock 

 structure, and that the structure and relations of rocks cannot be 

 made intelligible to practical men without classification ; more- 

 over, it was understood that the structure and relations of rocks 

 cannot be described, and in some cases cannot even be ascertained, 

 without maps. It was for these reasons that statutory provision 

 was made for the construction of a geologic map of the United 

 States in connection with the examination of the mineral re- 

 sources and mining products ; it was for the same reasons that 

 the topographic survey was undertaken as a basis for the final 

 geologic map. The work of the topographic branch of the bureau 

 has passed the experimental stage and entered upon the effective 

 stage, while the work of the geologic branch is now passing from 

 the stage of elaborate and often recondite research to the effective 

 stage ; and it is designed to carry forward the work of both 

 branches with energy and to proceed with the preparation of the 



geologic mapon a bisis at once thoroughly scientific and economi- 

 cally useful. In fact, during the past two or three years the 

 transformation in geologic work has been in progress and is now 

 practically accomplished. Thirieen atlas folios are now engraved, 

 and the field-work for about 160 atlas folios is completed, while 

 the field-work required for a still larger number is in progress. 

 In addition to these completed surveys, a general reconnaissance 

 has been extended over about four fifths of the entire aiea of the 

 United States, and a reconnaissance map representing the results 

 of this work is now in the hands of the engraver. 



THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. 



The fifth annual and winter meeting of the Geological Society 

 of America was held in Ottawa, Canada, beginning Wednesday, 

 Dec. 38, 1893. 



Through the kindness of Dr. J. G. Bourinot, C.M.G. of the 

 Royal Society of Canada and clerk of the House of Commons the 

 ample and commodious room of the Railway Committee of the 

 House of Commons was placed at the disposal of the society. 

 There were about forty Fellows present, sixteen of whom came 

 from various portions of the United States. The meeting was 

 under the presidency of Mr. G. K. Gilbert, Chief Geologist of the 

 United States Geological Survey, Washington, whilst Prof. H. 

 L. Fairchild of the University of Rochester was secretary. 



If we are to judge by the attendance and interest manifested at 

 the meeting, as well as by the grade of papers presented, there is 

 no doubt that it was a decided success. A local committee com- 

 posed of Fellows of the Royal Society, members of the Logan 

 Club, which comprises the scientific staff of the Geological Survey 

 of Canada, etc., had made all necessary arrangements for the 

 comfort and lodging of the members during the meeting. Dr. 

 Selwyn, as chairman of the committee, and Mr. Smith as secretary, 

 spared no pains to give the visiting Fellows of the Society a good 

 reception. Much praise is also due His Excellency the Governor 

 General for the exceedingly kind and generous manner in which 

 he devoted so much time and attention to the society besides fur- 

 nishing the Fellows from a distance with an excellent opportuni- 

 ty of having a glimpse of social life at the Canadian capital by 

 giving an "at home" at Rideau on Friday afternoon. To Dr. 

 Ells, Mr. J B. Tyrrell and others, much credit is due for their ex- 

 ertions in preparing matters. 



Shortly after ten o'clock on Wednesday, the 28th, President 

 Gilbert took the chair and called upon His Excellency the Gover- 

 nor General to give the address of welcome. His Excellency made 

 a very neat address which was received enthusiastically. To this 

 the president replied, and referred to the proverbial hospitality for 

 which Canadians were noted. The report of the Council was then 

 presented by the secretary and the result of the vote announced 

 so far as conclusions were arrived at. The following leading of- 

 ficers were then declared elected: President, Sir J. William Daw- 

 son; secretary, Prof. H. L. Fairchild; treasurer. Dr. T. C.White. 

 The Secretary's report, as well as that of the treasurer, showed 

 the society to be in a flourishing condition. Then followed 

 obituary notices of three deceased Fellows : T. Sterry Hunt, 

 J. S. Newberry, and J. H. Chapin. Prof. Raphael Pumpelly's 

 notice of Dr. Hunt was read by Mr. Van Hise; that of Prof. New- 

 berry, prepared by Dr. Kemp, was read by Prof. H. L. Fairchild; 

 and Prof. Hitchcock read W. M. Davis's memorial of J. H. 

 Chapin. 



The reading of papers or work proper of the society began 

 Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. Below is a list of the papers, in 

 the order in which they were taken up at the meetings. The whole 

 time of the society was taken up reading and discussing papers 

 until a late hour Friday, the 30th of December. Time and space 

 do not allow us here to do justice to the interesting discussions 

 on the papers presented. Both Glacial and Archaean geology re- 

 ceived a goodly share of animated discussion, whilst a few papers 

 on palseontology also stimulated further inquiry. Dr. Willard 

 Hayfs's paper on " The new geology " was a splendid contribu- 

 tion to the geomorphology of the district examined by that author 

 and dtfcribed bv him. 



