62 The American Geologist. January, i904. 
The session seems not to have been a briUiant success in 
any respect. Papers were read mostly in German. There were 
few of more than passing interest. Four days were given to 
excursions, one of the most notable being the excursion led by 
Albrecht Penck and Eduard Richter in the glacial formations 
of the Austrian Alps, which, however, continued from August 
28 to September 10, both inclusive. 
To some of the foreigners there seemed to be a lack of at- 
tention and preparation for their convenience on the part of 
the local committee of arrangements. "There was no room pro- 
vided at the headquarters for sitting, nor for .writing, nor con- 
versation, nor smoking; the only gathering-place was a large 
corridor, with no seats except four benches without backs, at 
tables intended for beer. A stand for beer and liquors had a 
prominent place. No daily program was printed, no list of 
registration was available until the last of the meeting, so there 
was no ready way of learning who was present, and no way of 
meeting persons whose acquaintance was desired. It was note- 
worthy that on the programs the foreigners were placed at the 
tail each day. It appeared to visitors as if the congress was a 
local affair,' intended primarily for the pleasure of the Austri- 
ans. Foreigners, who may have traveled half around the 
world in order to attend the meeting, were set aside and ne- 
glected as if of no consequence." In these respects the ninth 
congress was a remarkable contrast with the other European 
sessions. 
Canada and Mexico were contestants for the tenth session ; 
and Mexico won. It will occur at ^lexico city in 1906. 
The total number of adherants of the ninth session of the 
congress is 641. Therefore a little more than half of the mem- 
bership were in attendance. 
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 
The attention of librarians is called to a congressional act 
approved March 3. 1903, which provides that "the Director of 
the Geological Survey shall hereafter distribute to public li- 
braries that have not already received them, such copies of sale 
publications as may remain on hand at the expiration of five 
years after date of delivery to the Survey document room, ex- 
cept a reserve which shall not exceed two hundrjjd copies." 
The sale publications are of three classes only. — topographic 
maps, geologic folios and monographs. 
The original issue of Bulletin No. 182 entitled "A report 
on the economic geolog}' of the Silverton quadrangle. Colora- 
do," by F. L. Ransome, has been exhausted and a reprint has 
now been published. 
The monograph (vol. XLA'.) on the \>rmilion iron-bearing 
district of Minnesota, by J. Morgan Clements, has recently 
been issued. The price, including the atlas, is $3.50. 
