142 Scientific Intelligence. 



atmospheric electricity, etc. It thus fills a place never occupied 

 before and it may be safely predicted that under the able editor- 

 ship of Dr. L. A. Bauer, who has himself made notable original 

 contributions to terrestrial magnetism, it will do much to stimu- 

 late research and observation in this important but difficult branch 

 of science. The editor-in-chief will be aided by a large number 

 of associates, both in this country and abroad. The opening 

 number contains the following articles (pp. 1-28) : On electric 

 currents induced by rotating magnets and their application to 

 some phenomena of terrestrial magnetism, A. Schuster; die 

 Vertheilung des erdmagnetischen Potentials in Bezug auf belie- 

 bige Durchmesser der Erde, A. Schmidt, Gotha ; Halley's earliest 

 equal variation chart, reproduced in fac-simile for the first time 

 from a photograph furnished by Thos. Ward, Esq., of the chart in 

 his possession, text by L. A. Bauer. The remainder of the num- 

 ber, pp. 28-54, is occupied by letters to the editors, notes, re- 

 views, etc. 



II. Geology and Mineralogy. 



1. U. S. Geological Survey. 16th Annual Report of the 

 Director, Chas. D. Walcott. — The present director of the United 

 States Geological Survey has succeeded in presenting in printed 

 form to the Secretary of the Interior at the opening of Congress in 

 December a report of the operations of the survey for the year end- 

 ing June 30, 1895. Although no radical changes either in policy 

 or personnel were made by the new administration of the survey, 

 a few changes have been made in the way of development of its 

 usefulness. Among these changes may be noted the raising of the 

 quality of the topographic maps and adding the representation 

 on the maps hereafter surveyed in the public-land States of the 

 land-subdivisions ; the planning of a system of triangulation to 

 supplement that already done by the Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 and by the Geological Survey ; the placing of the entire topogra- 

 phic force within the classified service, so as to limit all appoint- 

 ments to men whose qualifications have been tested by an impar- 

 tial and thorough examination; the obtaining of authority to print 

 the mineral resources as a part of the annual report ; and several 

 other important changes. The appropriation for the work of the 

 survey was $421,600, and in the appropriation act separate sums 

 were set apart for the separate departments of the survey. There 

 was in addition the appropriation for printing which was com- 

 mitted to the public printer — and the salaries of the director and 

 his staff of immediate helpers and office needs were provided for by 

 a separate act — thus limiting the discretionary powers of the 

 administration but giving it a more compact and business-like 

 organization. The internal work of the survey is more minutely 

 divided than it was in former years, giving each field party 

 responsibility for its own work, and each geologist now reports 

 directly to the director of the survey. The work of the survey is 



