94 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



' ' Minerals from Leona Heights, Alameda County, (Jalif ornia, ' ' by 

 W. T. Sclialler, University of California, Geology Bulletin, Vol. 3, No. 7. 



" Palaeheite, " by A. S. Eakle, University of California, Geology 

 Bulletin, Vol. .3. No. 9. 



"Plumasite an Oligoclase— Corundum Eock, near Spanish Peak, 

 California," by Andrew C. Lawson, University of California, Geology 

 Bulletin, Vol 3, No. S. 



"Two New Species of Fossil Turtle from Oregon," by 0. P. Hay; 

 "A New Tortoise from the Auriferous Gravels of California," by W. 

 J. Sincdair; "New Ichthyosauria from the Upper Triassie of California," 

 by J. C. Merriam, University of California, Geology Bulletins, Nos. .10, 

 11 and 12, of Vol. 3. 



"Studies of Mexican and Central American Plants," by J. N. Rose, 

 Part 1, A^ol 8, of Contributions from the U. S. National Herl:)arium. 



"Culture AVork at the Substations," 1899-1901, Bulletin No. 147. 



"The California Sugar Industry," Bulletin No. 149. 



■ • The value of Oak Leaves for Forage, ' ' Bulletin No. 150, Univer- 

 sitv of California. 



Transactions, September, 1903. 



ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



Los Angeles, California, September 7, 1903. 



The first regular meeting of the Southern California Academy of 

 Sciences for the year 1903-1904 was held this evening at 940 South 

 Figueroa street. President Comstock occu]ued the chair. The evening- 

 was devoted exclusively to a lecture by Alvin H. Low, Escj., a well- 

 known attorney of Los Angeles, California. The subject dealt with was 

 "Scientific Commercial Standards." The following is a brief abstract: 



Fixity, said tlie lecturer, is the first rec}uisite of a standard of 

 length, weight, capacity or value. Alisolute fixity is scientifically impos- 

 sible, but practical fixity is attainable. 



The Congress is empowered by the Constitution ' ' To coin money, 

 regulate the value thereof and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of 

 weights and measures," and it is its duty to do so. Congress has been 

 slow to exercise this sovereign function. Most of the weights and 

 measures now in use are so by sufferance, the several states and terri- 

 tories having exercised a, right lioth as to weights and measures, and to 

 interest, not contemplated by the Constitution and to the great confu- 

 sion of commerce. Congress has, liowever, legalized the Metric system, 

 which should be made compulsory and exclusive. 



Money is the measure of value, and its value slu^uld l)e as fixed 

 and certain as the measure of Icngtli. Notwithstanding recent improve- 

 ments our money system, fuiuhimeiitally, remains the most barbaric and 

 antiquated of all the measuring systems in use. Congress lias at last 



