270 The American Geologist. October, 189? 
assigned by Mr. Taylor, under his modification of Dr. James 
Croll's astronomic theory. A better explanation, as the pres- 
ent writer believes and endeavored to show in the last June 
number of this magazine, is through the effect of englacial 
and superglacial drift, as was first suggested b}'' Russell and 
Woodworth, causing much marginal drift deposition at re- 
curring stages of the glacial recession, even without any sec- 
ular climatic changes. " w. u. 
The State Geologist of Missouri. 
Referring to our note in the September Geologist on the 
"Missouri Geological Survey," we append herewith further ev- 
idence of the magnitude of the revolution effected by the man- 
aging board. We have to apologize to the geologists of the 
counti'y for disturbing their sensibilities further with this 
subject, but wish to give them tiie best of the case on both 
sides. N. H. w. 
Jefferson City, Mo., Sept. 16. 1897. 
Editor ^'American Oeologist,''^ 
Miiiueapolis, Minnesota. 
Dear Sir : — In your September issue, under the head of editorial 
comment, appears a characteristic wail. Having just now no other 
available defense against such cowardly thrusts, I enclose copy of ray 
letter to Mr. Chamberlain of the "Journal of Geology.'' 
You and he have alike demonstrated how recklessly an "oracle" of 
human duplicity can prostitute the function of a so-called scientific 
journal. While your article is not quite so rabid, having been inspired 
by a different "reliable informer," it is quite as cowardly as his and for 
that reason the enclosed letter will not be a total misfit for you. 
It is my function to unfold and display the Geology of Missouri so 
vividly that the tax-payers will be the beneficiaries. Notwithstanding 
your slanderous insinuations, a great many good people seem to think 
that I am eminently qualified for that work. Anticipating that your 
final resort will be that of the knave whose mouth went off before his 
brain acted, I am ready to forgive, but I shall always think that if you 
had had one thin streak of true manhood in you, you would have waited 
until my first report was published and then have judged of my ability 
as compared with thut of my predecessors. 
On the other hand, truth is always logical and simple when you have 
found it. Being not entirely without personal ambition, I am thankful 
to all who helped me into this position and I trust that in the end I 
shall have reason to feel thankful even to you for a persistent but impo- 
tent effort to throttle truth with your partisan wail. 
Respectfully, 
[Enclosure.] Jno. A. Gallaher, State Geologist. 
