TITLES OF PAPERS. 413 



At this point several titles of papers on the printed program were passed 

 on account of the absence of authors, and the next paper presented was 

 as follows : 



ON THE SOUTHERN DEVONIAN FORMATIONS 

 BY H. S. WILLIAMS 



An abstract is published in Science, volume 5, January 15, 1897, pages 

 92, 93. 



The last paper of the morning session was the following : 



AGE OF THE LOWER COALS OF HENRY COUNTY, MISSOURI 



BY DAVID WHITE 



The paper is printed as pages 287-304 of this volume. 

 Following the reading of this paper, a recess for lunch was taken. 



The Society reconvened at 2 p. m., and the matter laid upon the table 

 at the morning session was taken up. The following letter was read by 

 the Secretary : 



LETTER OF LIEUTENANT R. E PEARY AND RESOLUTIONS RELATING THERETO 



41 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, December 28, 1896. 

 To the President of the Geological Society of America. 



Dear Sir : It is my intention to send a ship north again next summer to bring 

 home the big meteorite which owing to the drifting ice I was unable to embark 

 last summer. 



My ship will be a thoroughly suitable one, with a competent ice master, and 

 there will be accommodations on board for a party of scientists who may wish to 

 make investigations in high northern latitudes. 



The glacial and geological work of Heilprin, Chamberlin, Salisbury, Tarr, and 

 Barton in connection with my expeditions of the past five years have been of such 

 value and interest that I have thought you might consider the above opportunity 

 worthy of being brought to the attention of your Society. Last summer on board 

 the " Hope" with Professors Tarr and Barton the possibility was suggested of sev- 

 eral parties, each under the auspices of some university or institution, and each 

 entirely independent as to method of work and proprietorship of results, yet all 

 working on certain general lines formulated perhaps by a committee appointed by 

 your Society, so that the work of all could be combined and its value thus largely 

 enhanced. 



Each party taking a certain section of Arctic coast, it would be possible to cover 

 a wide range in latitude with synchronous studies and observations, which I am 

 sure would be of great value. 



