Personal and Scientific A^ezcs. 395 
zinc deposits of the Mississippi valley, and during the coming" 
summer will make special investigations concerning these de- 
posits in southern and northwestern Illinois. 
Proposed topographical map of Michigan. The late 
meeting of the ^lichigan Academy of Science took action look- 
ing to the completion of the topographical map of Michigan. 
In his presidential address professor I. C. Russell reviewed 
the subject and suggested united effort. The state survey is 
to co-operate with the United States Geological Survey. In 
addition to present funds available the state is asked to appro- 
priate $1000 per year. 
At the New Mexico School of Mines the work of min- 
ing engineering will be specialized along three distinct lines. 
These are the mechanical, the metallurgical and the geological. 
The last mentioned will form a somewhat new departure in this 
country and will be known as the special course in Geolog}- of 
Min'eral Deposits. It will be under the direct supervision of 
president Keyes. There will be four instructors in the geolog- 
ical department of this institution. 
In the New ^^Iexico School of AIines, six new profes- 
sorships have lately been provided for. These chairs will be 
filled during the summer. The departments thus established 
are Mineralogy and Petrography, Alining, Mechanical Engin- 
eering, Metallurgy, Physics and Electrical Engineering, and 
Languages. Several special lectureships and associate pro- 
fessorships have also been established. Particular emphasis 
is placed on the lectureship and study of Alining Law. 
The most important problem in the manufacture of the 
peat into a commercial article is the economical removal of the 
moisture. This is now done by drying. After this process the 
peat is pressed into small bricks. The manufactured product 
must be kept dry, otherwise it becomes valueless for heating- 
purposes. The cost of manufacture is from $1.50 to $2.00 a ton, 
and the cost of selling about the same. This means that the 
product will sell for from $3 to $4 a ton, and must find its 
market in competition with anthracite coal. 
Geological excursion to the lake Superior district. 
Professor C. K. Leith, of the University of Wisconsin, con- 
ducted a party of students and geologists to the Vermilion, 
Mesabi, Gogebic and Marquette iron ranges and also to the 
copper region of Keweenaw point for a ten days' excursion 
(April 20th to 28th). There were present fifteen students from 
the L^niversity of Wisconsin, one from Northwestern Univer- 
sity and one from the L^niversity of Chicago ; also the follow- 
ing geologists: F. D. Adams, A. E. Barlow. ]. M. Clements, 
U. S. Grant, W. H. Hobbs. C. K. Leith, A.* P. Low, A. E. 
Seaman, C. E. Wright and F. E. Wright ; also Kirby Thomas 
of West Superior and T. ?>. Caldwell of Lanark. Ontario. 
