Ge 
` 140 Editors’ Table. [February, 
or so, when this huge basin all boils up at once in one im- 
mense cauldron of seething waters? Flood rock answers these 
questions in part. It says that explosions of some kind do the 
work; but this answer only opens the door and points to a sea 
of data yet to be secured as to the nature, component parts and 
modus operandi of these explosions, which differ evidently in dif- 
ferent cases. 
Note —The seismological, observations to determine the dura- 
tion and extent of the earth and atmospheric waves were taken 
on two lines running at right angles with each other. General 
Henry L. Abbot, of the United States Corps of Engineers, had 
charge of the observatories on an east and west line on Long 
Island, with headquarters at Willet’s point. The north and south 
line was in charge of Professor F. W. Clarke, of the United 
States Geological Survey, Washington. He had his southern 
‘station on Staten island, in charge of Professor H. M. Paul of the 
United States Naval observatory. At the next station, on Ward’s 
island, Professor T. C. Mendenhall, of the United States Signal 
Service, and himself observed. At Yonkers Professor William 
Hallock, of the United States Geological Survey, and student 
Thomas Ewing, Jr., of Columbia College, occupied a station. 
The most northerly observatory of the chain was at Vassar Col- 
lege, in charge of Professor Maria Mitchell. Dr. Daniel Draper 
took observations on a number of instruments at Central park. 
The astronomers at Princeton, Harvard and Rutgers colleges also 
made observations in conjunction with the others. 
EDITORS’ TABLE. 
EDITORS: A. S. PACKARD AND E. D. COPE. 
It is safe to say that the greatest necessity of scientific 
progress in the United States to-day is schools and academies 
of original research. We have colleges and universities enough 
in most of the States, but there has not yet been established a 
single school where knowledge is produced, which corresponds in 
scope with the numerous institutions where it is taught. Perhaps 
it is a general impression that there is already more knowledge 
in the world than can be learned; but, if this be true, it can not 
for a moment obscure the geat truth, that most of the laws of 
nature remain still, more or less, unknown. It i is, or ought to be, 
