Scientific Intelligence. 4c76a 



5. Communication on the American Report of the International 

 Congress of Geologists, by J. W. Powell, Director of the U. S. 

 Geological Survey ; addressed to the Editor of this Journal under 

 date of Washington, D. C, Nov. 23, 1888.* — The American report 

 presented to the International Congress of Geologists at the 

 meeting in London commencing September 17, 1888, has been 

 received, and I find that my name is attached to it in several 

 places in such a manner that I am made to appear as one of the 

 parties responsible for its preparation and agreeing to it. This is 

 an unfair and improper use of my name. I was for much of the 

 time a member of the committee, but when it became manifest 

 that some of its members were determined to submit a report in 

 general character similar to the one finally submitted, I resigned 

 from the committee, preferring so to do rather than prepare a 

 dissenting report. Without entering into detail, lest this com- 

 munication be made very long, I beg to present my general rea- 

 sons for not wishing to be considered as in any way subscribing 

 to the report. 



The subject matter of the report is not of such a nature that a 

 deliberative body can properly determine it by vote. Facts of 

 observation, and generalizations therefrom, are proper subjects 

 for discussion, but they should not be submitted to decision by 

 vote. In my judgment this principle is fundamental. 



At some of the meetings I was represented by a delegate ; and 

 at some of the meetings 1 was present. Through my representa- 

 tive and personally myself, I endeavored to induce the committee 

 to consider questions of geologic technics, such as a color scheme 

 and a fundamental taxonqmic time scheme necessary to the use of 

 a color scheme ; and I endeavored to have principles of geologic 

 nomenclature formulated, etc. I protested, in season, and 

 perhaps out of season, against pursuing such a course as to make 

 the committee a debating club on geologic theories and on the 

 verity of geologic discoveries. 



The assembling of a large number of geologists from various 

 portions of the world, all more or less engaged in active research, 

 furnishes a valuable opportunity for the presentation of papers, 

 for the interchange of opinions, and for the enlargement of the 

 scientific horizon of the several members. The questions that 

 arise in this manner are to be decided ultimately only by the light 

 of science, and no weight should be given to any man's statement 

 or generalization other than that inherent in the facts themselves. 

 For a deliberative body to determine or settle any such question, 

 or in any way to make authoritative annunciation of facts and 

 principles, is at variance with sound scientific procedure and 

 wholly vicious. 



On the other hand, geologic language is conventional, as all 

 language is conventional, and all geologic conventions, whether 



* Received too late for earlier insertion. — Eds. 



Am. Jour. Sci.— Third Series, Vol. XXXVI, No. 216.— Dec, 1888. 

 29a 



