'Per^nal and Scientific News. 395 
the appointment of a committee to confer with the Mineralogical and 
Geological section oi\.\\Q Philadelphia Academy of Nattiral Sciences. For 
various reasons no meeting was called to discuss the subject at Philadel- 
phia. Since then regret has been expressed by some who were at first 
opposed to the project that the effort had not been pressed. At the New 
York meeting of the International Congress Committee (A. A. A. S.), 
August, 1887, the following resolution was passed: "That the American 
Committee of the International Congress will approve of a call for the 
meeting of an American Geological Congress, whose object shall be the 
discussion of important geological questions." 
The chief objection to the establishment of an American Geological 
Society has been the fear that its existence would impair interest and at- 
tendance at the meetings of the American Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science. But if the new society could be made identical with 
Section E, retaining the officers chosen at the meetings of the A. A. A. 
S., and having the power to assemble at other times during the year, 
adopting necessary regulations for the extra sessions, it would seem as if 
the geologists might obtain all the advantages of a special organization. 
The chairman and secretary of the above named committee of Ameri- 
can geologists would therefore call upon all American geologists to as- 
semble with them at Cleveland, Ohio, at 3 p. m., of Tuesday, August 14th, 
the day before the next session of the A. A. A. S., and if deemed expedi- 
ent, organize a society subject to the following limitations: 
1. The members of the society shall be also members of the A. A. A. S. 
2. The president and secretary of the new society shall be the gentle- 
men elected to these offices by the A. A. A. S. 
3. It will be recommended to Section E. at its formal session to offer 
an amendment to the constitution of the A A. A. S. that Section E may 
be allowed to hold meetings at such time and place as they may desire, 
independently of the other sections, subject to their own regulations. 
[Signed,] N. H. Wixchell, Chairman, 
C. H. Hitchcock, Secretary. 
PERSONAL AND SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
The geological laboratory of Buchtel College, 
Akron, O., has recently acquired a lapidary's lathe and fittings 
of the latest make and finish, with slitting disc and bort sheer, 
laps, grindstone and necessary polishing powders, complete, as 
used in the British Museum, Some difiiculty was experienced 
at the port of entry (N. Y.) as the importing agents without 
advice paid the duty, and were unable to procure its refund- 
ment, the department of the interior being apparently unaware 
