SCIENCE. 
285 
SCIENCE: 
A Weekly Record of Scientific 
Progress. 
JOHN MICHELS, Editor. 
Published at 
229 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 
P. O. Box 3838 . 
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 11, 1880. 
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. 
We consider it due to those subscribers who have favored 
us with their subscriptions, previous to the publication of 
our dub rates, that they should have the privileges of the 
list. They can therefore send us subscriptions for any or 
all of the publications named at the reduced double rates, 
less $4, the subscription price of “ Science.” 
Since the publication of the club rates last week, we 
have received rates from the proprietor of The American 
Journal of Science and Arts , the terms of which are $6 a 
year. The club rate with Science will be $8.50 per annum. 
The Report of the United States Commissioner of 
Education, for the year 1878, has just reached us, and 
as but twenty days intervenes before 1881 will make 
its debut, the first impression on opening the volume 
is that it is already somewhat out of date. We be- 
lieve that the cause of delay in printing this and other 
reports is attributable to the slow action of Congress 
in making the appropriations for printing, and we trust 
that in future the Commissioner may have facilities for 
publishing his report at an earlier date, as both its 
value and interest are much diminished by its being 
circulated two years after the facts recorded have 
transpired. 
Thus, the first line of the report lamenting the ex- 
istence of the financial depression, is read with impa- | 
tience in these booming times. We congratulate the 
Commissioner on the fact that “the assault on the 
bulwarks of society, by ignorant, unfortunate or un- 
principled persons,” has not been so destructive 
as was anticipated. Society at least survives, notwith- 
standing the action of those “ who would modify our 
present freedom of conscience, and of those who 
would establish a distinction of classes with a view to 
a permanent aristrocracy, or practice some form of 
destructive communism.” These gloomy political 
forebodings, which hardly appear to come within the 
range of Educational Statistics (in the absence of the 
catastrophy indicated), may now be read without 
alarm, and we feel tempted to suggest the s J£opnety 
of publishing official prophetic utterances, "Y.hde 
anticipations may yet “ lend enchantment to the view.-’ 
The Commissioner of Education makes a strong 
appeal to public opinion, that Congress may be in- 
fluenced to place more adequate means at his dispos- 
al to carry out the duties of his office. “ Called upon 
by thoughtful educators in anticipation of perils, from 
which it was hoped he might afford relief or safety, and 
in the midst of ignorance on the one hand and indiff- 
erence or opposition on the other,” he complains that 
he is not furnished with either the quarters, the assis- 
tants, or the money necessary to do the work required. 
To enable the Bureau of Education to perform its 
national functions satisfactorily, without the co-opera- 
tion of volunteer aid, which has in the past enabled it 
to accumulate information, the Commissioner wishes 
Congress to comply with six requests, which he makes 
in the following order : First , a sufficent force of com- 
petent and trained men and women ; Second , proper 
quarters ; Third, a library having everything printed on 
the subject of education ; Fourth, a collection of edu- 
cational appliances, the character of which is described ■ 
Fifth, appropriate means of receiving and collect- 
ing information in regard to educational systems, in- 
stitutions and methods ; Sixth , means to arrange all this 
information, publish it, or communicate it to the edu- 
cators of the country. 
We fear the Commissioner has somewhat weakened 
his case by showing his ability to present so ample a 
report with the means already at his command, but we 
trust that any substantial aid that he really stands in 
need of will not be withheld. The concessions he 
calls for appear quite reasonable and essential to his 
office, and his success in obtaining them will probably 
be controlled by his ability to prove that such is the 
case. 
This Journal, representing one of the highest 
branches of education, naturally desires that a National 
Bureau, for collecting educational statistics, should be 
properly supported by the nation, so that no lack of 
means at the command of the Commissioner should 
justify an inadequate administration of the office. 
We have made a few selections from this report, 
chiefly relating to scientific schools, and a few facts 
that appear of special interest. These will be found 
in another column. 
THE EPSOM MINERAL WATER OF MISSOURI. 
By Prof. Chas. E. Wait. 
A shallow well recently sunk within three miles 
of this place yields a mineral water which prom- 
ises to be a valuable addition lo the list of saline 
purgatives. A sample of this water was taken 
