KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 455 
to immortality. The masses of mankind reap the benefits of science in spite of 
themselves. The lecturer believed that most of the strictly scientific truths would 
always find their way through the world by experience and life as one jostles 
against another. Science maintained at the expense of the world returns a 
hundred fold. 
The whole lecture was replete with facts which no synopsis can reproduce, 
and was received with great interest by the audience. 
At 9 o'clock, Friday,the Academy convened in the Senate chamber and the fol- 
lowing papers were read : The Judith River Group, by Charles Sternberg. This was 
an original and valuable paper. Tornadoes, by John D. Parker. The Irving 
Tornado swept over a large extent of country, displaying seven or eight funnels 
along its course. The author preferred to make the term tornado comprehensive 
enough to embrace the whole storm, including all the funnels, instead of making 
several tornadoes. The paper advocated the thermal theory. Artificial Propa- 
gation of Food Fishes, by D. B. Long. The author of this paper spoke of the 
processes for the artificial propagation of fishes, and gave a list of those food 
fishes which are best adapted to Kansas. The preliminary List of the Reptiles 
of Kansas, by Frank W. Cragin. This was the first contribution to this depart- 
ment of science in Kansas and showed original work. ‘Traces of the Aborigines 
in Riley county, by Prof. G. H. Failyer. Archeology has become one of the 
most interesting of all branches of natural science, and the author of this paper 
has collected considerable material which was of absorbing interest to the mem- 
bers of the Academy. The paper was characterized by the presentation of 
facts more than theories. The Burlington Gravel Beds, by Robert Gillham. 
Since the discovery of the Burlington gravel beds, ten years ago, they have 
become pretty well known. The beds are probably the result of modified drift. 
No better material for macadamizing streets can be found than this beautiful 
chert, which possesses all the characteristics for such purposes. Mr. Gillham is a 
practical engineer in Kansas City, and he went down to Burlington professionally 
to examine the beds. His report is as favorable as could be desired, and this 
gravel will now probably come into more general use as a macadam. The morn- 
Ing session was well attended and of unusual interest. The papers were thor- 
oughly discussed by the members, and the Academy is evidently increasing in 
members and power. The Academy is doing a large amount of original work 
from year to year, and the results have already become known throughout the 
scientific world. 
At the afternoon session a large number of commissioners were appointed 
for the coming year, covering the whole field of science. 
Dr. John Fee, of Kansas City, then read an important paper on Color-blind- 
ness, based on original observation. The paper discussed the various theories of 
color-blindness and found them unsatisfactory. The most probable cause of 
color-blindness is a congenital defect. The paper then considered the relation of 
this subject to railroad accidents. Railroad employees sometimes cannot distin- 
