278 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XI. No. 268. 



meteorological observatory on a hill near Ton- 

 kin. 



The Weather Bureau proposes to extend its 

 service by establishing stations at all the Mex- 

 ican Gulf ports between Tampico and Progreso. 



A TELEGRAM has been received at the Har- 

 vard College Observatory from Professor 

 Kreutz, at Kiel Observatory, stating that Comet 

 « 1900 (Giacobini), was observed by Javelle 

 at Nice, February 3''.2893, Greenwich Mean 

 Time, in R. A. 2° 49'51.''0, and Dec. —6° 40' 

 10": 



Daily motion in R. A. — 39' 

 " " " Dec. +25" 



A CABLEGEAM to the daily papers reports that 

 there were 400 deaths at Bombay on February 

 Sth, more than on any day since the first out- 

 break of the plague. 



The congregation of the University of Chi- 

 cago, at its meeting on January 3d, adopted a 

 resolution to the effect that the official publica- 

 tions and journals of the University should use 

 the simplified spelling recommended by the 

 National Educational Association. This action 

 was, however, overruled by a vote of 20 to 16 

 by the Faculty Senate. 



According to the daily press, the cable 

 sounding ship 'Nero which arrived at Honolulu 

 on January 29th, while between Guam and . 

 Manila, made the deepest ocean soundings that 

 have yet been recorded. She found a large 

 area over which the soundings showed 5260 

 fathoms, about 260 fathoms more than had ever 

 been found before. This area was named Nero's 

 Hole. 



The second annual meeting of the New Eng- 

 land Association of Chemistry Teachers was held 

 at the United States Hotel, Boston, on Febru- 

 ary 3d. Mr. Charles A. Pitkin, of South Brain- 

 tree, reported for the committee on physiological 

 chemistry, and Mr. Irving O. Palmer, of New- 

 ton, for the committee on new apparatus and 

 methods, while Professor Theodore W. Richards, 

 of Harvard University, told of Harvard require- 

 ments for admission in chemistry. Mr. Rufus 

 P. "Williams, of Boston, was elected president, 

 and Mr. H. J. Chase, of Newton, secretary, for 

 the coming year. 



The Electrical World states that the English 



army surgeons' employment of the Rontgen 

 rays in field surgery has proved most successful, 

 and has met with the highest commendation. 

 Orders have been received for a fresh equip- 

 ment and skilled operators, and before Febru- 

 ary it is likely that every column at the front 

 will be furnished with a Rontgen ray outfit. 

 Wireless telegraphy is also rapidly gaining 

 ground. Marconi outfits are being installed on 

 three British vessels destined for active service, 

 as v/ell as on the passenger steamers in the 

 English Channel. 



At a New York State Civil Service Exami- 

 nation to be held on February 24th, the posi- 

 tion of assistant in geology in the State 

 Museum, will be filled. The salary of this 

 office is $900. It is desired that candidates 

 shall be graduates in civil or mining engineer- 

 ing. 



A VACANCY exists among the second-class as- 

 sistantships in the Geological Department of 

 the British Museum, owing to the removal of 

 Professor Gregory to Melbourne. Admission to 

 these posts is by Civil Service examination in 

 general and special subjects, after nomination 

 by the trustees. The maximum limit of age 

 has recently been lowered to 25 years. The 

 British Treasury Department has, however, the 

 power of appointing persons over this age and 

 without examination, should a strong recom- 

 mendation to that effect be made by the trus- 

 tees. It is said, however, that such appoint- 

 ments have always been highly unpopular with 

 the working staff. 



According to the bill now before Congress, 

 providing for a Department of Commerce with 

 a Cabinet officer, the Patent Office is removed 

 from the Interior Department and placed under 

 the jjroposed Department of Commerce. 



A BILL has been introduced into the New 

 York Legislature appropriating $200,000 for the 

 construction and equipment of suitable build- 

 ings for carrying on the work of promoting 

 knowledge throughout the State in forestry and 

 agricultural lines by Cornell University. 



The president of the British Board of Agri- 

 culture has appointed a departmental com- 

 mittee to inquire and report as to what regu- 

 lations may with advantage be made by the 



