Page images
PDF
EPUB

tions which deal with the region in which it is situated as well as of historical and other publications of local interest. It is, perhaps, evident that if it became generally known that every first, second, and third class postoffice contained such a list of publications the traveler and resident in search of information would immediately go to the post-office to consult the list.

2. The second suggestion is that every postmaster shall have on sale all of the federal and state publications on the exhibited list. In order to put this suggestion in practical form the writer prepared the following list for his home town:

PUBLICATIONS ON WILLIAMSTOWN AND VICINITY

Maps

The Greylock, Bennington, Berlin, and Wilmington topographic maps published by the United States Geological Survey. Show the location of roads, streams, houses, and elevations. On exhibition and for sale here.

Local History

"Origins in Williamstown," by Professor A. L. Perry. An account of the early history of the Northern Berkshires. Can be consulted in the Village and College Libraries.

"A History of Williams College," by Professor L. W. Spring. A history of the local college from its foundation to 1916. Can be consulted in the Village and College Libraries.

"Boyhood Reminiscences," by Keyes Danforth. Published in 1895. An interesting account of the houses, people, and customs of the time. Can be consulted in the Village and College Libraries.

Geology

"Taconic Physiography," by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 272. Contains excellent descriptions and explanations of the scenery of the Berkshires. Can be consulted in the Village and College Libraries.

"Geology of the Green Mountains," by Pumpelly, Wolfe, and Dale. United States Geological Survey Monograph XXIII. Contains a technical discussion of the geology of the region. Can be consulted in the Village and College Libraries.

"Final Report of the Geology of Massachusetts, 1841," by Edward Hitchcock. Interesting

chiefly from a historical point of view. Can be consulted in the College Library.

Zoology

"Birds of New York," by E. H. Eaton. New York State Museum Memoir 12. Illustrates, with 106 colored plates, the birds of New York and New England. Can be consulted in the College Library.

"Useful Birds and their Protection," Edward H. Forbush. Massachusetts Bureau of Agriculture. An illustrated and interesting book on the birds of the state. Contains brief descriptions of the more common birds and accounts of their food and habits. Can be consulted in the Village and College Libraries.

Botany

"Wild Flowers of New York," by H. D. House. New York State Museum Memoir 15. Illustrated with many admirable colored plates. As the New York and New England species are for the most part identical this volume is as valuable for Williamstown as for New York. Can be consulted in the College Library.

"Bog Trotting for Orchids," Grace Greylock Niles. A popular description of the kinds and habits of orchids in this region. Can be consulted in the Village and College Libraries.

Agriculture

Lists of publications of great practical use to the farmer, stockman, and poultryman are on an adjoining bulletin board. The bulletins on these lists are published by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station at Amherst; the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Ithaca, and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station at Storrs.

Collections and Objects of Local Interest The sword and other personal property of Ephraim Williams, the founder of Williams College. In the College Library.

Collections of local rocks and other exhibits. In the Geological Museum, Clark Hall. Mission Monument, Mission Park. Block House Marker, West Main Street, on the property of the Kappa Alpha House.

The desirability of such a list in every postoffice in the land becomes greater as automobile travel becomes more general. (In one state there is, on an average, one automobile for every six persons.) Farmers, who, a few years ago, seldom went further than their nearest town now go many miles in their automobiles. When they reach a town new to them they want to see whatever is of interest. If all automobilists and other travelers knew a list such as the above could be found in the post-office they would first go there for information.

There is another important reason why such lists should be on exhibition in post-offices. It is very desirable that some person or persons in every community should know what has been written about their region. If those government and state publications pertaining to a region were listed and on sale at the post-offices, the postmasters and their assistants would know about them and through them this knowledge, which at present is confined to comparatively few, would be dissemi

nated.

All this could be accomplished if congress should pass the following laws:

1. A law ordering the exhibition of a list of the publications pertaining to the region in which the post-office is situated, of somewhat the same character as that for Williamstown, Massachusetts.

2. A law ordering the scientific bureaus to send to each first, second, and third class postoffice all of the government publications of local interest, and directing the postmasters to offer them for sale.

3. A law ordering that state publications be offered for sale by the postmasters if the state legislatures so direct.

It is hoped that all scientists and others interested will write to their congressmen urging the enactment of such a law as that outlined above so that our excellent government and state publications may become better known and so that our post-offices may become centers of greater usefulness.

HERDMAN F. CLELAND

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

THE INSTITUTE OF HUMAN PALEONTOLOGY

On December 23, 1920, the Institute of Human Paleontology in Paris was formally de

clared open by Prince Albert of Monaco, its founder. The account in Nature states that the institute is situated in the Boulevard Saint Marcel. The building, which was nearing completion when war broke out, contains a large amphitheater for lectures and meetings, a spacious library, and a number of rooms fitted up as laboratories, for examining and photographing the material furnished by excavation. Collections of specimens from the sites which have already been explored, as well as reproductions of the paintings and drawings found on the walls of the French and Spanish paleolithic caves, are exhibited in the building. An endowment of two million francs is attached to the Prince of Monaco's foundation, and an additional sum has been promised should it be rendered necessary by any further increase in the cost of living. The institute is under the direction of M. Marcelin Boule, assisted by a council consisting of MM. Salomon Reinach, Dislère, Verneau and Louis Mayer.

Among those who were present at the opening ceremony were the President of the French Republic, M. Millerand, H.Ι.Η. Prince Roland Bonaparte, M. Honnorat, then Minister of Public Instruction, the Belgian and Italian Ambassadors, the Argentine and Persian Ministers, M. Lacroix, secretary of the Academy of Sciences, the president of the Academy of Medicine, and representatives of the College of Medicine, the Collège de France, the Pasteur Institute, and the various scientific societies. An inaugural address was delivered by the Prince of Monaco, who defined the broad aims of human paleontology. At the conclusion of the prince's address brief speeches were made by M. Honnorat, minister of public instruction, M. Perrier, and M. Le Corbeiller, president of the Municipal Council, the last named speaking on behalf of the city of Paris. Lastly, M. E. Cartailhac, the veteran archeologist, expressed his joy at the creation of the institute, which, he said, had been his dearest wish throughout his career as an archeologist.

A NEW CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL THE problems of technical agriculture in the adjoining provinces of Canada are essentially the same as those of the northern states of this country. Anyone who has taken the trouble to familiarize himself with the situation can not fail to be impressed with the similarity of aims and ideals in agricultural investigation and education in Canada and the United States. The workers in technical agriculture are responsible for much of the recent progress and prosperity of Canada. This is perhaps most appreciated in this country by those of us who are engaged in similar lines of work in the northern states and who, through correspondence and frequent conferences upon mutual problems with our colleagues in adjacent provinces, are best informed as to the results they have accomplished and the progress that they are making. Therefore the writer feels that a new agricultural journal, the official organ of the Canadian Society of Technical Agriculturists, will be welcomed and will find many readers on this side of the international boundary.

The first issue of Scientific Agriculture and La Revue Agronomique Canadienne bears the date of January 1, 1921. It is published monthly by the Industrial and Educational Publishing Company, Ltd., Gardenvale, P. Q. The title page states that it is: "A magazine devoted to the general advancement of agriculture in Canada. Published in the interests of agricultural science and research." The aims of the journal are set forth in more detail in the following quotation from the inital editorial.

As the official organ of the Canadian Society of Technical Agriculturists, our columns will naturally give publicity to the work which that organization is doing. The articles published will, as far as possible, treat with the educational, scientific and more progressive phases of agricultural effort. Certain pages will perhaps appear to be of primary interest to members of the C. S. T. A., but the general reader will find much information in those pages that is of equal interest to him.

We particularly desire to cooperate with the present existing agricultural press, and to assist them in any way possible. We do not intend to be competitive, nor to trespass severely upon the ground which they are already covering. We feel, however, that there is a place for a magazine which

1

can represent technical agriculture in this country and we feel certain that no existing publication will dispute that claim, or hesitate to welcome this venture.

As the name of the publication suggests, articles will be printed both in English and French. WARNER J. MORSE

MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, ORONO, MAINE

SCIENTIFIC LECTURES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

THE following program of Sunday lectures is being given at the Zoological Museum of the University of Minnesota:

January 2. "The winter bird-life of Minnesota." By D. Lange, principal of the St. Paul Mechanic Arts High School.

January 9. "The geology of the Minnesota iron ores." By W. H. Emmons, professor of geology, University of Minnesota.

January 16. "The work of the state game and fish commissioner." By Carlos Avery, game and fish commissioner of Minnesota.

January 23. "The story of the wheat rust." By E. C. Stakman, professor of plant pathology, University of Minnesota.

January 30. "Animal pets and their relation to health." By W. A. Riley, professor of entomology, University of Minnesota.

February 6. "Some Minnesota butterflies and moths and the mystery of their double lives." By Royal N. Chapman, assistant professor of animal biology, University of Minnesota.

February 13. "The work of the chief state forester." By Wm. T. Cox, chief forester of Min

nesota.

February 20. "The mysteries of pond life." By C. P. Sigerfoos, professor of zoology, University of Minnesota.

February 27. "The Indians of Minnesota: past and present." By A. E. Jenks, professor of anthropology, University of Minnesota.

March 6. "Itasca state park and its wild life." By Thos. S. Roberts, director of the zoological museum, University of Minnesota.

March 13. "Living lanterns of fireflies and other animals." By E. J. Lund, associate professor of animal biology, University of Minnesota. March 20. "Our spring flowers." By N. L. Huff, assistant professor of botany, University of Minnesota.

March 27. "The home-coming of our birds." By Thos. S. Roberts, director of the zoological museum, University of Minnesota.

THE MARSH FUND OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Ar his death in 1899 Professor O. C. Marsh left to the National Academy of Sciences a sum slightly in excess of $7,000, the income from which was to be used for support of researches in natural history. By reason of judicious handling, the principal and interest now amount to more than $20,000, and the income is made available to the Committee on the Marsh Fund for grants in accordance with the original purpose of the bequest. At its last annual meeting the National Academy approved the following recommendations of the Committee on the Marsh Fund, namely:

That in general the income be used for important pieces of constructive, scholarly work within the field of science to which Professor O. С. Marsh gave his principal effort. It seems appropriate that grants in the first instance should be used for the support of paleontological and geological research, and that beyond this field the committee should next consider research in aspects of biology related especially to paleontology.

The interest on the Marsh Fund available for the coming year will make possible grants totaling approximately $1,500. The committee deesires to make the allotments in such a manner as to contribute most definitely to the advance of constructive work in the subject to which Professor Marsh dedicated this gift.

Suggestions as to the best utilization of funds will be appreciated. Proposals made may take the form of recommendations regarding problems to be solved, or may concern individuals or organizations guaranteeing through their work the type of constructive effort to which the support of this fund might well be given.

Applications or recommendations should be forwarded to the secretary of the National Academy of Sciences, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., on or before April 5, 1921. JOHN C. MERRIAM, Chairman, Marsh Fund Committee

(

THE ELECTION OF DR. ANGELL AS PRESI-
DENT OF YALE UNIVERSITY

THE Yale Corporation at its adjourned meeting on February 20 by unanimous vote elected James Rowland Angell as president of the university to succeed Arthur Twining Hadley at the close of the present university year. While the decision was reached last week, no formal action was taken until it was ascertained that Dr. Angell could accept. The Corporation has endeavored to choose for its head the ablest educational administrator available in the United States, irrespective of the college of his graduation or the place of his residence.

Dr. Angell is a son of the late President

Angell of the University of Michigan, a graduate of that university of the class of 1890, and as professor at the University of Minnesota, professor, dean and acting president of the University of Chicago, chairman of the National Research Council, and president of the Carnegie Corporation, he has shown ability as an administrator and as an educational leader. Dr. Angell is a distinguished psychologist, having been president of the American Psychological Association and being a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Angell gave the Thomas Lecture to freshmen at Yale this year and was sought for by Yale several years ago for a chair in the Department of Philosophy and Psychology.

The election of Dr. Angell to the Presidency of Yale comes as a result of ten months of study on the part of the Corporation to decide on the strongest man in America for the position. President Hadley submitted his resignation April 10, 1920, and a committee was appointed to receive names of possible candidates for the office of president and to transmit them to the Corporation. In this way some eighty names have been under careful consideration. The Corporation believes "that no one in America combines the

breadth of educational experience, and busines ability, high public service and spiritual ideals more completely than Dr. Angell. He has also shown during his many years of service at the Universities of Minnesota and Chicago a rare capacity for sympathetic understanding of undergraduate life."

President-elect Angell is now in the south. It is expected that he will later make regular visits to confer with members of the faculty and familiarize himself with the Yale situation.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS

Ar the annual meeting of the trustees of the American Museum of Natural History changes in the scientific staff were announced as follows: Dr. J. A. Allen, former curator of mammals, was made honorary curator of mammals; Dr. Henry E. Crampton, former curator of invertebrate zoology, was made honorary curator, and Dr. Willard G. Van Name was made assistant curator of lower invertebrates; Dr. F. E. Lutz, former associate curator of invertebrates, was made curator of entomology; Dr. Robert Cushman Murphy, former curator of the department of natural science at the Brooklyn Museum, was made associate curator of marine birds; Mr. Carl E. Akeley was made associate in mammalogy; Dr. J. Howard McGregor, of Columbia University, was made research associate in human anatomy; Mr. E. W. Gudger was made an associate in ichthyology. A new department was formed, to be known as the department of comparative anatomy, of which Dr. William E. Gregory and Mr. S. H. Chubb, both previously of the museum's staff, were made curator and assistant in osteology, respectively.

AT the Charter Day Exercises of the University of Pittsburgh on February 18, the honorary degree of doctor of laws was conferred upon Mr. William Boyce Thompson, the copper industrialist of New York, N. Y. On the same occasion the honorary degree of doctor of science was conferred upon Mr. C. H. MacDowell, president of the Armour Fertilizer Company and director of the chemicals division of the War Industries Board during 1918. These honors were given upon the recommendation of the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

Ar the annual general meeting of the Faraday Society, London, the following officers were elected to serve for the coming year: President, Professor A. W. Porter; Vice-presidents, W. R. Cooper, Professor C. H. Desch, Dr. J. A. Harker, Emil Hatschek, Professor T. M. Lowry, Dr. E. H. Rayner and Dr. G. Senter.

LAWRENCE WILKERSON WALLACE was elected secretary of American Engineering Council at the meeting of the executive board in Syracuse, N. Y., on February 14, succeeding L. P. Alford, of New York, who has been acting secretary since the formation of the council on November 19, 1920.

Ar the meeting of the board of trustees of the American Medical Association held on February 5, the following fellows were reelected for terms of six years to positions on the editorial boards of the special journals published by the association as indicated: Richard C. Cabot, Boston, Archives of Internal Medicine; John Howland, Baltimore, American Journal of Diseases of Children; Samuel T. Orton, Iowa City, Iowa, Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry; Martin E. Engman, St. Louis, Archives of Dermatology and Syphilology. E. S. Judd, Rochester Minn., was elected to the editorial board of the Archives of Surgery, succeeding Dr. William Mayo, who had resigned.

Ar the "Utility Corn Show" held at Galesburg, Ill., January 5 and 6, Mr. J. R. Holbert, agronomist, Office of Cereal Investigations, U. S. Department of Agriculture, was presented with a silver loving cup inscribed:

« PreviousContinue »