The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-04
Association OF American Geologssts and
Naturalists.
New H.yr. Thursday Morn;no ,

New HAvEs, Thursday Morning,
May l, 1916.
Professor CHESTER DEWEY, of Rochester
took the chair at 81 o'clock, and immed
ately called the meeting to order. The Secretary
read the minutes Of the session OF Wednesday after.
| noon, which were adopted.
This business committee reported, through Pro-
lessor Rogers, and offered programme for the
morning session, and recommended that the me.
mortal addressed to the Secretary of the NAVY, by
committee appointed for that purpose, should be frs
taken up.
Professor ROGERS then read the correspondence
that had taken place with the Secretary of the Navy
in reference to this memorial and also the documen,
itself Its object was 10 induce the government ia
set on foot, under the direction Of naval officers OF
the United States, comprehensive series Of obser
vations on the geology and natural history of the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of this country, on the
fluctuations OF the gulph stream, its true course,
DEPTH velocity and temperature, and variation of the
compass. II minated the alleged existence of {
large shoa the Florida coa st. Of counter current;
in the Atlantic, well as one supposed to set in from
the Chinese Sea 70 the Northern Pacific Il also
strongly recommended systematic course of obser
vations on the formation of shoals, corals nAxsca
and all marine productions; the altitude declina
ton, right ascension, nc, of the heavenly bodies
all these, and numerous others, were mentioned in
the memorial fit subjects for the investigation Of
the able and scientific men employed in the naval
service OF the country whose services in this cause
would greatly rebound to the benefit of the country
and OF the world.
PREspErr-What order will YOU take on this report
II is open for discussion.
The report was adopted and on motion Of tho Score.
tary the committee was continued till next year
The PKE:DErr said that tho subject called for any in
municatc a pause) If there are no remarks to be
made we will proceed to the business next in order Mr.
tary) the subject Of drifts also paper on chain Of
erratic rocks in Massachusetts.
Mr. 8. REED read the paper the erratic rocks-de-
tailed their course, their height, formation and
scenery and cndedby concssing his inability to
for the origin of these rocks.
Prof HIrcHcock observed that he had accompanied Mr.
Reed in his observations and could not account for their
curious appearances. The line many miles long, and
and on the theory Of drift was strange the
fragments not rounded, but quite angular He an
tcipaed some developments from the geological survey
of Vermont How could these bouders be transported
Water could not do tit incapable of strcwing them
along over hills for course of forty miles Nor could
icebergs do it. He not committed to any particular
theory, and therefore, could freely give any suggestion
to Prof: Rogers, or any other gentleman.
Dr. JACKSON said he agreed with the view of Professor
Hitchcock as to the formation of cratic rocks They
had often chains OF rocks and gravel presenting the
appearance Of railroad embankment At the Saulte St.
Marie there were found dispositions of every kind of rock
found the shores Of Lake Superior both angular and
rounded Some of them brought by causes now in
action; but the most elevated were of more ancient
origin and were formed when the Lake stood at much
higher level as it certainly did at time. When this
country was covered with water the water would bring
great 1ouiders from place to place and believing that
tho Ice islands Of the Atlantic capable of transport
ing any mass Of rock, he disposed regard the
agency Of masses Office in dcpostng these chains of
ratio rocks as probable
The PREsrDEsr said that the difficulty ofths subject
hills between Connecticut and Massachusetts arose be-
tween thousand and fourteen hundred feet and was
hard suppose the OF these isolated
Dr. BARRArr called the attention of Professor Hitch
cock to immense bouders Of rounded FORM and spe-
cies OF yellow quartz in the region of his observations
He would ask ifthere any means of ascertainng
the level Of the Connecticut river 900 years ago
His attention had been directed to the height Of the Con.
necticu river from the fact that the river Nile was now
found to be "a feet lower than it 900 years ago.
Professor HrcHcock said that the tcrraced valleys
the borders of the Connecticut the only thing to
throw light on the subject From all he knew there was
change in the Lowell Of that sreamat least within the
memory ofman.
Dr. JACKSON referred to a chasm through which the
Merrmack flowed and which led to the influence that its
now. In Grafton. Orange County, there were wells
found high ridge showing that must have bee
flowing there at period when perhaps the level of the
continent was very much lower than at present
Professor SLLIMAs observed in reference the drift
theory that he uncommtted to any theory would
observe that they were not accustomed to attribute
enough importance to the agency of ice and water in
transporting rocks He was told by gentlemen that they
height In the Antarctic ocean, friend had coast.
ed along ice island for seventy miles, was unable
to round it. Such enormous masses Of floating ice would
be adequate to transport all the rocks spoken Of and
view of this he thought they should attach more impor-
to there forces although they might not in all cases
be able to clearly explain their action
Mr. DANA said he was extremely happy to hear those
opinions from Professor Sman In the Southern Ocean
in boat it forty miles long and he was of opinion
that the they knew Of these islands, more they
would be satisfied with the agency of ice in transporting
rocks according to the views stated Frequently smaller
of ice had been bearing OF bouders
and they were not always to attribute the removal OF
these bouldcrs to the largest leo islands.
Dr. s. REED to explain particulars which he
had omitted in relation to the position Of the erratc rocks
which he had reported In the Richmond valley these
boulders found ting upon another forty
feet high showing that there have been power in
action to form this elevation previous that which pro-
Professor HITcHcocw was dubious on the successive
passage OF tides or ocean in the track
necessary to account for the detached position of these
cratic rocks, without the agency of icebcrgs.
o.D.mo NEED was pleased with the suggestion Of the
was perfectly satisfied with them, but they the
Dr. JACKSON made further explanation az to the nc
ton OF ice islands in Lake Superior and pointed out the
curious fact OF aporon Of earth containing copper being
found any spot borders of the lake unless Of
Isle Royal 40 miles distant from the isolated and evident
ly transported mass alluded to.
Professor RopGERs admired the assiluity eyinced
by the gentleman, in treating the subject In rela
ton TO the main point the subject Of drift rocks
n
scripon ofour different hypohesis) All these theories
prcsupposed the entire subme of the continent AT
former period lie had before challenged any member
the Society to prove that the level Of the continent
more than 100 feet lower than present In the val
lies OF the Ohio and Mississippi there no marine de-
posts or remains to prove it. At Albany in the Cham
plain valley at West Point and along all northern
rivers there were found marine shells in abundance but
in other parts this essential proof was wanting and he
thought it little to dwell upon these thcorc
about Drift rocks as proof that the globe once SUBJ
merged they could not prove the inferior level of the
nCfn
the removal Of rocks BY lee they first bring down
the hills to the level OF the ocean when the ice could
operate upon their masses They wcro aware that the
tide wave crossed the globe twice ~ hours there
were, however, other waves Recently, having occa.
sion to examine volcanic action in the case Of the earth
quose OF Lisbon, il was asccrtaneI that the tide wave
cnuscd by volcanic action, known to move with a
velocity f30 miles an hour Under these circums ances
how simple was 1t to account for the theory OF the
removal OF rocks by these immense earthquake pillows
The dia'cuity OF properly approaching the force Of
there ysical dynamics could only be by
cNc nding thoir idens of the yaatncss t,er fore