380 The American Geologist. June, i890 
placed in the hands of Dr. Persifor Frazer, secretary of the American 
Committee of Nomenclature, for presentation to the Congress. As in 
proper order was necessary, tliese invitations were presented to the 
Council of the Congress in the morning session, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 
1888 together with an invitation to choose New York, which was sign- 
ed by a single citizen of that city. The following is a translation of the 
official action on these invitations. 
Prof. von. Zittel warmly seconds this invitation as does also Prof. 
Hauchecorne, Stur, Hunt, Capellini and Macfarlane. 
Prof- Hauchecorne said that the great distance and the considerable 
expenses of the voyage which would be the consequence are of a nature 
to prevent many geologists from taking part in the session in the 
United States. He asks if it would be possible to procure reductions 
of the cost of transportation. He thought if it were possible to obtain 
facilities of this kind a great number of his countrymen would take 
part in the Congress at Philadelphia. 
Prof. Frazer thought that the cost of the transit across the ocean 
would be reduced to about one-half, because a similar reduction was 
made for the members of the British Association at the time of their 
visit to America in 1884. As to the excursion to the Rocky mountains, 
to the mineral deposits of the south, and to the great lakes he hoped 
that tickets would be obtained from the railroads almost gratuitously. 
Dr. Sterry Hunt in seconding the invitation of Dr. Frazer said that 
in his quality of president of the reception committee of the British 
Association in Montreal in 1884, he knew that tlie different steamship 
lines and railroads made very consideral^le reductions. 
Prof. von. Zittel proposed the acceptance of the invitation of the Con- 
gress to the United States, adding that the well known generosity of 
the Americans would make the visit easy. He was sure that many 
geologists would make the journey and as all the phenomena of nature 
are on a grand scale in America, it is almost necessary for every geolo- 
gist to go and complete his studies on that great continent. 
Prof. Capellini having made a voyage to the United States and Can- 
ada in 1853 and having received so many marks of hospitality, warmly 
supported the proposition of Prof. von. Zittel to accept the invitation to 
the United States. 
Prof. Hauchecorne also supported the motion and said that many 
mining engineers who ought to be good geologists will be happy to go 
to America to study the famous mineral deposits of that continent. He 
recalled the fact that the Germans were among the first to exploit the 
beds of anthracite in the United States. 
Prof, de Lapparent supported the proposition. The immense scale 
of all the phenomena of Nature on the continent of America will have 
the effect of enlarging the views of scientific men. 
Prof. Stur, (speaking in German) said that the geologists of Austro- 
Hungary desired very much that the Congress should hold its session 
in Vienna ; but after having heard the invitation to meet in the United 
States in 1891, he supported the proposition to accept this invitation in 
the hope that three years later, or in 1894 the members of the Con- 
gress will come to Vienna where he promises them a hearty reception. 
Prof. Neumaijr supported the proposition made by the United States 
geologists and hoped that the session of 1894 would be reserved for the 
city of Vienna. 
Prof. Capellini thought that after having submitted the invitation of 
the United States to the Congress at its last session, a cablegram 
ought to be sent to the city which was chosen. 
At the meeting of the Council of the Congress held Thursday 
morning 9:30: Sept. 20, 1888, 
Prof. Capellini said that everybody was in accord that the next ses- 
