Febkvaky 3, 1905.] 



SCIENCE. 



191 



the ice, is a problem which can not be studied 

 to advantage anywhere better than in Green- 

 land, where similar conditions now prevail as 

 once obtained in the glaciated area of both the 

 northern and the southern hemisphere. These 

 are only a few of the most important botanical 

 questions which have to be solved at an arctic 

 station. 



The resident investigator should make de- 

 tailed meteorological observations. Near the 

 proposed site for the laboratory are mountains 

 2,000 to 3,000 feet high, and easily accessible. 

 Mr. Porsild proposes to place self-registering 

 instruments in a hut on the top of the moun- 

 tain, so that simultaneous readings could be 

 had from near sea level and from the high 

 mountain — a matter of great consequence. In 

 this connection also phenological observations 

 would be taken. 



Among the problems of geological interest, 

 for the study of which Greenland offers special 

 advantages, may be mentioned the study 

 of glaciation, and of the extremely rapid 

 erosion, that takes place in the northern 

 part of the country. Certain parts of 

 the coast ai-e known to be sinking, in the 

 basaltic regions of north Greenland earth- 

 quakes are not infrequent, and a trained ob- 

 server, living in the country the whole year 

 round and supplied with necessary instru- 

 ments, could do good service by obtaining 

 data on these phenomena. Large collections 

 of plant fossils have already been brought 

 home from these regions, but still much re- 

 mains to be done in paleontological research. 



Of zoological subjects especially plankton 

 studies could be undertaken, and a series of 

 observations of the periodicity of plankton, to- 

 gether with data on salinity and temperature 

 of the sea water would be of considerable in- 

 terest for an understanding of the animal life 

 in the high arctic seas. 



Mr. Porsild, who is now connected with the 

 botanical department of the University of 

 Copenhagen, has already done good work in 

 the study of arctic plant life, and if he un- 

 dertakes the work of the resident investigator, 

 it can be taken for granted that results of 

 permanent value to biological science will fol- 

 low the founding of the new institution. The 



plan of establishing an arctic biological sta- 

 tion in north Greenland, as proposed by Mr. 

 Porsild, has received the endorsement of all 

 the scientific institutions in Denmark, and 

 the hearty approval of scientists in northern 

 Europe. It now remains to be seen whether 

 the Danish government is aware of the impor- 

 tance of this proposal and willing to take the 

 necessary steps for its realization. 



Pehr Olsson-Seffer. 

 Stanford University, Cal., 

 December 5, 1904. 



SPECIAL ARTICLE fi. 



THE DEXTER, KANSAS, NITROGEN GAS WELL.* 



During the first half of 1903 parties drilling 

 for oil or gas at Dexter, Kansas, came into 

 a gas sand at a depth of about 400 feet which 

 yielded a large amount of gas. It was soon 

 closed in and an attempt was made to burn it, 

 as natural gas is usually burned, for genera- 

 ting steam for drilling purposes. Much to the 

 surprise of parties interested, it would not 

 burn. Later it was found that when a fire 

 was already kindled in a fire box or an engine 

 and the gas turned on, as is usually done with 

 natural gas, it would begin to burn, and would 

 develop sufiicient heat to generate steam 

 moderately well. But as soon as the coal or 

 other fuel in the fire box was consumed the 

 gas would no longer burn. A cylinder of the 

 gas was shipped to the University of Kansas 

 later during the summer and was partially ex- 

 amined by different members of the chemical 

 and geological departments. 



This peculiar gas obtained from the ground 

 in a manner similar to the way natural gas 

 is ordinarily obtained, and in a region where 

 gas might reasonably be expected, at once be- 

 came an object of great interest. The owners 

 of the well, who had spent their money in de- 

 veloping it, did not wish it given great pub- 

 licity. But newspaper men wrote it up and 

 oil and gas men generally spoke of it as a well 

 of ' hot air.' Accordingly, the state geologist 

 deemed it of sufficient interest to warrant a 

 careful investigation. On his advice the well 



* Presented in abstract at the meeting of the- 

 Geological Society of America at Philadelphia,, 

 December 30, 1904. 



