The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-07

was appointed to report the fossil brachiopsda and
orthocereta of the United States
The thanks of the Society voted to Mr.. Appleton
for his generous offer to furnish the Society with sum
Prof HALpEMAs introduced the subject of the taconic
system, observing that as Mr. Emmonds had thought he
had discovered an older stratum of rock than had bee
known hitherto he brought up the subject to elicit what
ever information was possessed by members such
interesting matter.
Professor Rooms alluded to review he had made of
Professor Emmonds claim to the discovery of far
ancient stratum of fossiliferous than admitted he had
little to add to those given by him show that
he was likely msed by their structural character No
decisive reasons could be given. 1t was well known
,na OF strata was distng
of extensive group of deposites in which continual
lands were raised from the bed of the Deep anterior to
that which was recognized Yet according to Professor
Emmonds this Taconic system upifted anterior to
the rest and yet was not strange that if these
vast oceans ana ages they were so completely similar
that no conflicting features could be discovered As to
the evidence from organic remains Professor Emmons
had prepared collection of the Taconic system and
pretended they were not like those known. At time
English naturalists thought Of making system called
the Cambrian anterior to their Sluran system Of fossils
but it was given up. These fossils should not
prise when the difficulty penetrating through fossil
ferrous rocks and when il was rccolected that every
new search gave specimens From letter received
from Mr. Lyell i appeared that English naturasts had
been satisfied with Professor Emmonds reasons in
favor of the theory OF system anterior the Sluran
system, with which the lower N r. system is identical
and to which these fossils have already been referred
Professor HALL detailed the results OF series OF Obser
vatons made by him in the range Of sandstone wells
which extend from the Hudson river the valley Of the
Connecticut He regarded the upper strata being, in
general less thick than they considered and by
tho assistance of chart pointed out the Interruptions
occurring in the line by the intrusion of of lime.
stone granular quartz, calcarcous rocks, and Others
whose direction conveyed the impression that these
truding strata in places continued beneath the
upper AZ another point on the range Upon
AZ of any system but the Suran present classified
Mr.. WILDER. of New York, made few remarks, as he
said the defence and assigned his for
curing with the views stated.
Prof DEWEY, after pointing out certain peculiar fea-
necessity for Taconc system There were difficulties
in the appearance of the strata but he expected that
ny of these would disappear when the survey of Yer
there except the foldings, and that the
fact for which they wanted to account There
traces Of fuson-nothing like signs of metamorphic
Prof LooM. conceded the accuracy of the differences
the Of Pro rl be- az
between the Taconic and other rocks, it was
strong circumstance. He would ask any member, il
they had visited the rocks referred to by Prof Emmonds
to pronounce az to the accuracy Of his statements INC
reply2
told there were strong evidences of gneous action in
the mountains spoken Of
Prof DEWEY would like to see their locality descrb-
ed He was familiar with the mountains spoken of.
Dr. JACKSON replied to the interrogation of Prof. Loo
mis-, that he was we'll acquainted with the Taconic
rocks of Mr. Emmonds and could confirm the accuracy
of his representations concerning them.
Prof. Boorn could refer Prof Dewey to positions on
the Susquehanna river where he might if disposed to
be convinced, find ample proofs of the metamorphic
theory.
At the suggestion of the CHAIR the discussion here
dropped to afford time for the next subject which
introduced by
DR.. KANE, some minerals found on the praries of
Alabama. These he described as in measure diff
ferent from other prares they fiat but undu
lating and contained minerals, which not usually
the case One Of the specimen. was substance he re-
garded as chalk if it proved the fallacy of the opn-
ing that there chalk this continent He nara
ted the offer of man, who By visionary,
to procure immense winter power by perorating the
great limestone stratum found there and was willing If
the Legislature Of Alabama granted him to pro-
cure supply Of water sufficient to raise the Tombigbee
Uaughter Would call the attention of the Society to
pecc1of lime fonnd at Tennessee River and altogether
composed Of shells too minute to be visible This vein
he knew to be $50 miles wide.
Professor B9ofH pronounced the specimen tertiary
Professor SHEPARD thought the first specimen was dcn.
tcal with the great Carolina bed Of which much had
been sad and which Professor considered Of the
The list of officers for 1886 here balloted for the
following being chosen
DR. CHARLES T. JACKSON, Chairman.
Mr.. BENJAMIN SILLIMAS, Jr. Secretary.
Prof. SILLIMAN addressed the society on the Iron
tain Of Missouri He gave very interesting account of
an excursion to these regions and described the vi
cinity of the iron mountain in glowing terms of ad.
miration of its striking neurological and picturesque
features. The mountain called par excellence the Iron,
being surrounded by other vest accumuaons of that
metal was about 400 feet high and covering
the characteristics of the iron its appearance &c.
attributed its origin to the other intrusive
masses and OF decidedly an gneous origin sent from the
interior Of the earth where it might be safely conec.
tured vast stores of metals existed well other sub
stances.
Prof DEWEY made few happy remarks as to the good
effects of the Society hoping it would be continued and
cherished and inmaed the necessity for his leaving
home next day.
On motion Of Dr. JACKSON the warm thanks of the So
cey presented to Prof Chester Dewey for the
tlemankc and proper manner in which he had presided
The meeting then adjourned meet again at the Cen
tire Church to hear the address of Prof H. D. Rogers
LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY-Iy SENATE-Pettons
were presented for the renewal of the charter of the
Watertown and Cape Vincent Railroad Company for
Lien law for Auburn of Pilots and Engineers the
Hudson River for the passage of the bill for the greater
security OF steamboat navigation that river Mr..
Bockee reported the bill to the charter of the
Bockce also reported in favor Of the bill in relation to
the construction of the New York and Eric Railroad,
which, together with the other Railroad bills made
the special order for Thursday Mr. Dennison reported
favorably on the Assembly bill in relation to the canals
(appropriang SLOT 900 to canal purposes from majo
rity Of the committee canals, and at the time
submitted written report adverse to the bill This bill
was also made the special order for Thursday next
Mr. Bockee from the select committee made report on
the Assembly bill recommending Convention to revise
the Constitution coming to conclusion favorable to its
passage, with certain amendments. Mr. Lott, from mi
norty Of the committee submitted another report, and
introducing other amendments. The bill was made the
special order for Wednesday. Tho rest Of the morning
was devoted 10 the reading the after
noon the Normal School Bill discussed and ordered
to third reading. BY consent 1t read and passed.
The Excise Bill was then taken up, but question
taken upon il. recess was then taken until p NJ,
when the bill relative to the Seneca Indians taken
and discussed in committee until o'clock, without taking
the question The bill mado special order for
morrow afternoon Adjourned.
In tho House, petitions were presented by Mr. L. H.
Brown, to rovivc tho charters of tho WATERFOWL and
Rome, and Watortown and Capo Vincent Railroad Com.
panesand bills were subsequently introduced for that
purpose by Mr. Comstock and ordered to third reading
Among tho bills reported was ono by Mr. A. w. Young,
for the distribution Of the Natural History Of the State
among the several colleges and academies hch put
forward MIR. Garrcson made an unsuccessful effort
to assign Friday afternoon for the consideration OF
the subject Of closing the locks Sunday-objoc.
tons being made to the reception Of resolution
for that purpose On motion Of Mr.. Morrison, Wedncs.
day afternoon WINS assigned for the Of the