2±6 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. V., No. 112. 



well) ; and Dr. Martin's plain declaration of 

 the character of the work they support ought 

 to call a blush of shame to the cheek of every 

 one of them, unless, indeed, the disease may 

 have alreadj' affected the vaso-motor centre. 



The report of the commissioners of the 

 Massachusetts state topographical survey for 

 1884 shows that the S3'stem of co-operative 

 work with the U. S. geological survey has 

 proved entirely successful. The work has 

 been under the immediate control of the U. S. 

 geological survey, but subject to the inspection 

 of the state commissioners at every stage. 

 Although the field-operation did not begin 

 until midsummer, and was subject to all the 

 difficulties of starting, an area of several hun- 

 dred miles for detailed contoured maps was 

 survej'ed before the winter closed the field-work. 

 The parties, few in number, were so placed that 

 their work fairly represents all the varieties of 

 topography within the state ; and the results 

 give a fair measure of the cost of a com- 

 pleted map on the scale of two inches to the 

 mile, with contours at intervals of twenty feet. 

 It appears that this cost is not likely to exceed 

 fifteen dollars per square mile, and may be 

 brought within twelve dollars. 



The report recommends a further appropria- 

 tion of three thousand dollars per annum, to 

 be used in the determination by triangulation 

 of the corners of the several town areas. The 

 present system of delimiting the towns and 

 preserving the memory of their bounds is an 

 inheritance from former ages. It is said that 

 in the old English da} r s the memory of the 

 boundaries was effectively maintained by tak- 

 ing all the boys of the town to the bounds, 

 and soundly flogging them along the lines. B3- 

 repeating this from year to year, the male 

 population of the township was sure to have a 

 lively, though perhaps unpleasant, sense of 

 these limits. This simple method of fixing 

 the boundaries has fallen into disuse, but as 

 yet no more effective modern sjstem has taken 

 its place. 



The commissioners of the Pennsylvania 

 geological survey have stipulated with Major 

 ^Powell to prosecute the survey of that state 

 on terms similar to those arranged with Mas- 

 sachusetts. The plan requires an appropri- 

 ation of ten thousand dollars per annum on 

 the part of the state. If this plan is carried 

 out, — and it is hardly conceivable that the 

 Pennsylvania legislature will not do its part 

 of the work, — the map of that state should 

 be completed within ten } T ears. 



One of the greatest hinderances to the de- 

 velopment of the United States arises from the 

 imperfect knowledge of its surface and struc- 

 ture. Oar modern life cleaves so closely to 

 the earth, that at every step we need a vast 

 amount of accurate information which our 

 forefathers did not require. If the admirable 

 plans of the present director of the geological 

 survey are allowed to bear their point, 03' the 

 end of this century, this hinderance may be re- 

 moved ; the whole surface of the national area 

 will be mapped on a scale proportionate to the 

 needs ; and the cost of the work will not much, 

 if at all, exceed that of maintaining a regi- 

 ment of cavahy for the same time. There will 

 be reason for sad comments on the American 

 reputation for sagacit} T , if this work is not done. 



Any one who has seen the results of the 

 terrible upheaval at the south caused by the 

 war is surprised when here and there he sees 

 signs of returning prosperity. Knowing to 

 how man} T a southerner, as he sits on his well- 

 worn mahogany and gazes at his streaked mir- 

 ror, it is the question of each daj r where he 

 may obtain the meagre ration of homin}* for 

 himself he was wont to mete out to his slaves, 

 it is actnallj* a cause of wonder, when one 

 hears now and then of the prosperit}* of some 

 of the southern colleges, and at last of the 

 revival of an interest in science, such as is 

 shown by the formation of the Elisha Mitchell 

 scientific societ}' in North Carolina. 



This society was the outgrowth of the small 

 knot of studious men about the college at 



