196 The American Geoloyist. September, 1897 
The following papers were rend by title: 
Notes on the geology of the lower peninsula of Michigan, Alfred C. 
Lane. 
The nomenclature of the Carboniferous formations, Robt. T. Hill. 
Ice-transported boulders in coal seams, E. Orton. 
Clay veins vertically intersecting coal measures, W. S. Gresley. 
Section E, A. A. A. S. Vice-president I. C. White was absent hav- 
ing gone to St. Petersburg to attend the International Congress of Ge- 
ologists. Prof. E. W. Claypole of Akron, O., was elected by the section 
to till his place as chairman. Prof. White had sent his address which 
was read by Pi-of. Claypole. It treated of the Pittsburgh coal bed de- 
tailing the character of this vast mass of mineral fuel, and giving sec- 
tions of it at various places to show its regular structure many miles 
from its typical exposure. The persistency of the very thin shale part- 
ings only a quarter of an inch in thickness over many hundred square 
miles of country is exceedingly striking and characteristic.^ Prof. White 
also pointed out the important discovery that this sheet of coal is miss- 
ing over 5000 or 6000 square miles where it has been hitherto pi-esumed 
to be present. Its whole area is thus reduced very largely and the Ap- 
palachian coal stores lessened to an equal extent. 
Prof. F. B. Taylor pointed out to geologists visiting Detroit some of 
the leading features of its surface geology. Reviewing previous work 
he dwelt on the previous condition of the lake region when it was cov- 
ered with a single sheet of water of various extent at different dates — 
Warren water and lake Algonquin being especially mentioned. Pass- 
ing on he urged that the last movement about Detroit had been one of 
depression as evidenced by the deep water in the streams entering the 
river which is out of all proportion to their breadth. Generally speak- 
ing he considered that their beds had been cut down to a level about 30 
feet below the jn-esent. Mr. Taylor made arrangement to guide some 
of the geologists in a short excursion to examine a few of these deep 
channels that could be seen in the city of Detroit. 
Prof. Spencer reviewed at some length the re&earches made in the Ni- 
agara district giving historicall}' a sketch of the contributions of all who 
had taken an active part in the woi-k and stating the present condition 
of its chief unsolved problems. Mr. Gilbert gave the? evidence obtained 
by himself and others regarding post-glacial changes of level in the re- 
gion and entering into detail showed that by measurements made as ac- 
curately as the conditions allowed, he had provisionally demonstrated 
an elevation of '^^ of an inch at Sackett's harbor as compared with 
Charlotte in 20 years, one of 3 inches at Port Colburn as compared with 
Cleveland in 37 years, one of H3 inches at Point Austin as compared 
with Milwaukee in 20 years, and one of 2 inches at Escanaba as compared 
with the same. Generally he inferred at these four stations the following 
conclusions: that in 100 years the rate of elevation was 37, QQ, 39 and 46 
feet respectively. Following these results into more detail he advanced 
to prophecy and said that if the results above given.were actual and con- 
