394 The American Geologist. December, isoy 
Cerro Gordo county work north so as to cover Worth county 
and Dr. S. W. Beyer finished his earHer work in Hardin county. 
The subject work has consisted mainly of a very careful, 
study of the paving brick clays of the state carried on by Dr. 
Beyer in behalf of the survey and in cooperation with the State 
College, State University, the Association of Brickmakers and 
the Iowa Engineering Society. This study, which will in time 
be extended to cover the whole subject of the local clays, is 
being made very exhaustive and will undoubtedly be of much 
economic value to the State. A preliminary report will be sub- 
mitted this year. The lead and zinc fields near Dubuque are 
being studied in their economic aspects by Mr. Bain, and the 
reopening of mines and the building of a large concentrating 
mill has already resulted. Mr. Bain has also been collecting- 
samples and making other studies relative to cement materials 
throughout the state. The samples are now in the hands of the 
chemist for analysis. 
Within the year the ninth volume of the Survey reports 
has been printed and distributed and a special bulletin on the 
grasses of the state is now in press. 
A Pkofosed Intern.ation ai. Journal of Petrology. In 
the December number of the American Journal of Science 
Messrs. J. P. Iddings and L. V. Pirsson, American members 
of the committee for this proposed journal present the fol- 
lowing statement: 
The committee appointed bj' the seventh International Congress, 
of Geologists to consider plans for the establishment of an interna- 
tional journal of petrography has chosen Prof, F. Becke of Vienna, 
well known as editor of Tschernak's Mittheilungen, president of the 
committee, and has taken the first steps toward the organization of 
such a journal. It has been proposed that articles appearing in it 
shall be printed in French, German or English at the option of the 
author. 
While primarily intended for the publication of reviews and ab- 
stracts of all petrographical papers wherever published, it is suggested 
that it may include also articles which shall appear in it for the first 
time. The carrying out of this must depend on the financial support 
the journal receives. 
The journal is to be managed by a committee appointed by the In- 
ternational Congress of Geologists, the committee to select an editor 
who shall have two assistants; the editor and assistants to receive 
salaries for their services. 
The desirability of having one source, thoroughly up to date, to 
which to turn for information concerning all matters published on 
petrology is self-evident to all attempting to keep abreast with the 
rapid progress of this science. One has only to observe what a great 
impulse to the science of mineralogy has been given by the establish- 
ment of Groth's Zeitschrift fur Krystallographie, to be convinced of 
the usefulness and convenience of such a journal. 
The necessity of forecasting as correctly as possible the financial 
support obtainable for such a journal has suggested to the American 
members of the committee the plan of calling attention to the enter- 
prise and of inviting all interested in its success to communicate to 
