IS THE RAINFALL OF KANSAS INCREASING? 457 



survey will tell you; all question concerning the existence of mineral waters, 

 building materials, etc., will be fully answered. 



At the present time there is considerable interest manifested in regard to the- 

 sinking of artesian wells in the western part of the State, which cannot be done 

 until a geological survey has been made, and to delay now would be hindering 

 the growth and development of our State. We believe it would be for our best 

 interests. In order to get the experience of other States that have had geologi- 

 cal surveys, I some time ago mailed to the Secretaries of each one of the States 

 in the Union a number of questions in regard to the matter, and have received 

 replies from twenty eight States. 



The doctor then read the replies received from these States in regular order, 

 beginning with Maine in the East, and closing with Colorado in the West. All 

 bore testimony to ihe great importance and value of such work wherever it had 

 been done. 



Third day's session opened with the reading of the " Reports of the Commis- 

 sion on Chemistry upon the Year's Progress," as follows: 



"In Organic and Physiological Chemistry," Prof. E. H. S. Bailey, Law- 

 rence. 



On "Technical and Industrial Chemisty," Prof. H. E. Sadler, Empona. 



On " Agricultural and Analytical Chemistry," J. T. Willard, Manhattan. 



" Statistics of Color-Blindness in the University," Prof. E. L. Nichols, Law- 

 rence. 



On the "Analysis of the Water of the Fort Scott Artesian Well," E. H. S. 

 Bailey and E. W. Walter. 



"Some Special Tests in Regard to the Delicacy of the Sense of Smell," E. 

 H. S. Bailey and L. M. Powell. 



The afternoon session convened at 2 o'clock, and papers were presented m 

 the following order : 



On "Some minerals of Kansas," E. H. S. Bailey. 



On the " Supersaturation of Vapors," Prof. E. L. Nichols. 



On a "New Method of Studying Absorption Spectra," W. S. Franklin. 



" November Meteors," R. S. Short. 



The following valuable paper was then read by its author : 



"IS THE RAINFALL OF KANSAS INCREASING?" 



PROF. F. H. SNOW. 



In the present paper attention is called to the fact of an increase of rainfall 

 rather than to the various theories which have been advanced to explain such, 

 increase, or to show that there ought to be an increase. 



Geologists, physicists and astronomers are harmonious in accepting it as an 

 established fact that the earth in common with all other worlds in the universe is 



