402 Tiie America It Geologist. December, i,sy.=> 
be in the rooms of the Academy in the ( apitol building. On 
Thursday there will be afternoon and evening sessions, and on 
Friday there will be morning and afternoon sessions. The 
annual supper of the Academy, provided by the local mem- 
bers, Avill be given Friday evening. According to the usual 
custom, after supper there will be an informal discussion up- 
on matters concerning the welfare of the Academ3^ At this 
time will come up the question as to whether another attempt 
shall be made to secure the passage of the bill, drawn by the 
Academy, for the establishment of a geological and natural 
history survey, and if it is decided to press the measure, the 
methods to be adopted will be considered. If the program is 
not completed Friday afternoon, the final session will occur 
Saturday morning. The Wisconsin Academy is the official 
society of the State, occupying the same relation to Wiscon- 
sin that the National Academy does to the United States. 
Liberal provision is made by the State for the publication in 
excellent form of suitable papers. Special invitations for 
papers have not been made. The privilege of reading papers 
is equally open to all members. Titles of papers and time re- 
quired for presentation should be sent to the president or 
secretary on or before Dec. 1st., so that these may be printed 
in the final announcement of the meeting. 
Field Work of the U. S. Geological Survey. In Science 
for Nov. 8th appears the following note concerning the field 
work of the U. S. Geological Survey : 
Director Walcott, of the U. S. Geological Survey, has returned to 
Washington after a two months' absence in the northern Rocky Moun- 
tain region, spent in field work. He was studying the Cambrian rocks 
and faunas of Montana and Idaho. 
The field work of the season is drawing to a close. Nearly all the 
geologic parties have come in. though work is still going on on the 
Pacific coast, and, tw a small extent, in the Interior or JVIississippi basin. 
Work in the northern Rocky Mountain region and in Washington was 
brought to a stop early in October by severe storms. In this region 
Mr. Emmons and Mr. Willis were at work as well as the director. The 
special work in Alaska, an examination of the gold and C(jal resources, 
was adv^anced so far as conditions would permit, and Drs. Becker anti 
Dall are now in Washington preparing their joint rejjort on the subject. 
Since submitting to the Secretary of the Intei-ior his report on the 
character of the lands involved in the McBride claim in Washington, 
Mr. W. Lindgren, who made the expert examination for the Government 
in that case, has been mapping the geology of the mining region of 
northern-central California. 
Topograjjiiic work is still in progress in all quarters. The number of 
sheets surveyed is unusually large and the work is generally of excellent 
character. Surveys are. or have been, in progi-ess in aboiit twenty-five 
states and territories. The Chief Topographer. Mr. Henry Gannett, 
made an inspection of the work, especially that in the west. Th e work 
going on in Indian Territorj' is of special interest because of the pec uliar 
conditions governing it. Here, in connecticm with the regular topo- 
graphic mapping, a sub-divisional or parceling survey is being made in 
the interest of the General L;uid office. This work was much retarded 
