Geology. 459 



lacking an alphabetical index, and since the subject matter is 

 arranged according to general methods, and not according to the 

 elements to be determined, it is not a convenient book for refer- 

 ence, h. l. w. 



5. Solid Bitumens, by S. F. Peckham. 8vo, pp. 317. New 

 York and Chicago, 1909 (The Myron C. Clark Publishing Co.). 

 — This book is a treatise on the natural history, chemistry, phys- 

 ical properties, and technology of natural bitumens or asphalts. 

 The author's extensive personal experience has been of much 

 service in the preparation of the work, and much material from 

 other sources is included. The uses of the solid forms of bitumen 

 in the construction of pavements are very thoroughly discussed, 

 and there is an interesting chapter on the oiled roads and streets 

 of the Pacific Coast. h. l. w. 



II. GrEOLOGY. 



1. Iowa Geological Survey ; Samuel Calvin, State Geolo- 

 gist ; James H. Lees, Assistant State Geologist. Vol. XIX, 

 Annual Report for 1908, with accompanying papers, Pp. xiii 

 and 7/79, ills. 117. — The original coal supply of Iowa is estimated 

 at 29,160,000,000 tons ; 141,608,792 tons have been mined up to 

 and including 1908, which indicates that at the present rate of 

 production the Iowa supply will last for 2550 years. The 

 importance of the coal industry in Iowa justifies the publication 

 of a number of papers dealing especially with this subject. 



The first report by Henry Hinds on " The Coal Deposits of 

 Iowa" (pp. 25—391) gives detailed descriptions of the geological 

 relations, mode of occurrence of the Iowa coals and the present 

 state of development of the coal industry for each township and 

 district in the state. The Fuel Value of Iowa coal is discussed 

 by Frank A. Wilder (pp. 401-4 97) and includes analyses by 

 James H. Lees and A. W. Hixson, in which are given the results 

 of the fuel tests at the plant established at St. Louis by the 

 United States Geological Survey. The History of Coal Mining 

 in Iowa by James H. Lees (pp. 521-597) is an interesting 

 account of the successes and failures in coal mining from 1840 to 

 1908. 



The chapter on the Carboniferous Section of Southwestern 

 Iowa by George L. Smith (pp. 605-657) deals largely with the 

 stratigraphy of the Missouri stage, and in this same report S. W. 

 Beyer discusses the origin, distribution and commercial value of 

 peat deposits in Iowa (pp. 693-725), and L. H. Pammell describes 

 the flora of the northern Iowa peat bogs (pp. 739-776). 



H. E. G. 



2. West Virginia Geological Survey ; I. C. White, State 

 Geologist. County Reports and Maps, 1909. Marshal, Wetzel 

 and Tyler Counties, by Ray V. Hemen, Assistant Geologist. 

 Pp. xvi and 654, maps 3, plates xii, figures 3. — This second vol- 



