The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-10
AFTERNOON SESSION.


HALr-pAsr . O'CLOCK.
The PREsDEsTsstaed the subjects prescribed by the
business committee for the remainder Of the day;
Professor JOHNSTON offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That committees may be appointed from
year in the vicinity Of all the principal Northern rivers
empyng into the Atlantic Ocean from the territory Of the
United States to make the necessary measurements and
experiments and to ascertain accurately as may be,
the amount Of sedimentary matter annually carried by
them into the ocean,
Professor DEWEY thought would be better to defer
the nomination of the committee till next day.
Professor LOOMS of opinion that it would be more
Professor 0LMsrED suggested that the better way
would be to appoint committee composed OF limited
number with power to add to their number.
Professor JoHSsros, at the suggestion Of the Chair
withdrew the motion for the present.
Professor DEWEY to read paper |" On the Gyp-
sum of the State of New York" These rocks, he said
rocks and in masses of different sizes mbedded in the
rocks sometimes partially chrystazed at others well
to be beautiful silenite His principal object was to
dwell upon the rocks with which it associated The
general opinion that it occupied line by itself,
whereas the fact that found in isolated masses
in other sorts of rock therefore, when he spoke of gyp
sum- he did not speak of it stratum, although he
might do SO of the gypsyferous earth: When common
people name objects not known to them they must do
in accordance with some obvious quality, or appear
ance, or association gypsum was called ashes One
popularity in is that wherever found the rock
latter cracked in small pieces giving color to the
notion of the people, that was still upheavng
Ater stating numerous facts IN PROOF una. gypsum was
alluded to some plausible theories to its formation
Some accounted for through the presence OF suphu-
rite Of calcium, but this he discarded, such sub
stance to be found in the earth-t was to be had
only in the laboratory of the chemist others associated
its origin with chrystalization As to the and
cracks which suggested the idea OF upheaving he
disposed to attribute it to the settling of the
on loose earth after soldifcation, as the settling
would present the same appearance Alter making seve
raj other remarks the Speaker said that he did SO for
the purpose Of bringing the subject before the Society
for the purpose of asceranng the position if gypsum
were the same in other places
The PRESIDENT invited members to state whatever
facts they were acquainted with but no communication
being made on the subject,
DR.. JACKSON arose and addressed the meeting on the
Barometer He set out with stating that no instrument
usually imperfect than the barometer and the
price in the inverse proportion to its perfection
Those procured for the use of the N. E. Survey from
England not true; although those imported from
that country much better than those made in the
United States, whilst the French still valua.
BILE. Then foowe description Of simple conrivance
Tor serving all the purposes sought to be secured by
the baromeers in use, and submitted unfinished
specimen of the instrument 1t consisted of glass tube
ameer to end was attached by a screw cylndri.
cal receptacle of bell metal to hold the mercury, to
which again was attached another tube in the shape OF
an inverted cove, covered by leather cover and
through this operated the pressure of the atmosphere
The upper portions of the structure described in
detail and were exceedingly simple, and probably for
that not the less perfect DR.. J. acknowledged the aid
afforded him in his troublesome experiment to make
good barometer to MIR. j. H. Temple of Boston, whose
skill in brass work not to be exceeded in any
country.
MrMBER--What will be the cost of these barome.
tiers
DR.. JAcKssN-Sixty dollars-the sum charged for
those now in and which worth nothing. DR. j..
mens as their results and satisfactory, whilst
bad ones were endless source Of annoyance and
ror He sure that average of ten measurements
OF the altitude OF mountain barometricay would be
found more accurate than if done rigonometrically.
Professor OLMTED begged to say that the thanks of
the Association and of the country due toI Dr. j.
for the pains taken by him to improve the barometer and
also for instrucng able mechanic in his improvements,
who would furnish the country with what was SO much
imnn affh ic ucafu instr unou
This subject having dropped the PRESIDENT advised
the meeting to resume the inquiry the minerals
ciaed with trap rocks which had been already before
Professor ROGERS first rose to the question He did not
through the solid bed Of rocks land where wells and de-
posts of waters found in of rocks he thought
would be found to be Of the precise kind and portion
of those waters in which, the particles Of the substances
were first deposited as for instance the brine wells
found in part Of the State Of New York. portions
the ancient ocean, displaced by these deposites The
idea Of currents Of water from the surface of the EARTH
or the air. passing into solid sata he could not at all
dcrstand He did not mean to deny the existence of hy
drous minerals that mode of segregation bal
there were mineral solutions Of gneous well aque.
GUS origin What he meant was, that where these were
found the water containing them old as the mat
tiers they held in solution.
Mr. j. d. DANA explained some views expressed in the
morning in relation to this topic
Mr. STEPHEN REED, DR.. JACKSON, and Professor SHEP-
spoke briefly The latter expressed his belief that
the question on which they now engaged was like
the great one ofcopuscular action full Of difficulty; and
while he thanked Mr. Dana for bringing up the matter
the form he did, he begged to be excused if he stated
of the obstacles to belief in his views Professor
then repeated in detail incongrues in the
given for the origin of these mineral waters in rocks by
Mr. ID. and others
Professor sILLiMAS after few REMARKS in illustration
thought that we were yet far off proper appreciation OF
the immense forces-such as fire. water, pressure, &C.
which in active operation in this globe and which
constantly engaged in the production Of changes and
effects in the elements composing its Yet the age,
me EFFORTS being made the Importance OF the investga'
tion promised that at distant period, approxma
ton, far in advance OF our present position, would be
made to proper appreciation Of these powers.
The PRESIDENT again called to the notice of the Socie
ty its fiscal affairs Since he spoke of the matter in the
morning. he believed all the members then present had
complied with his suggestion II any Others not then
present had since arrived, they would do well to pay
their assessment
Professor ROGERS again brought up the question of the
memorial to the government which made matter OF
discussion the day before. In dwelling briefly on the
importance of the matter he alluded to the pains taken
by foreign governments in regard to similar subjects
and desired to committee appointed and the discus
| sion pursued among members.
Mr. HAYS and Dr. JACKSON spoke The latter said, that
when professionally engaged on the coast of Maine he
had paid attention to the subject Of the oceans level and
frequently convcrsed with old pilots and fishermen who
were invariably Of the opinion that the level of the sea
on that coast had sunk, in their language that the
rocks had sensibly grown within the memory Of man.
He anxious to a systematic plan undertake en- for
asccrtaning the tide levels under he ausnces of
eminent At Portland this end had lately
been cected and when it was considered that the Uni.
ted States had and means, throughout the whole
ocean coast to do so, it would be matter of regret
IL efforts not made to whether we were getting
up in the world or down. Uaughter)
Professor SLLfMAN added, that on the coast of New
England evidences in the form Of marine remains were
abundant that difference had taken place in the elcva-
ton Of the For one, he would be glad to see gov.
eminent taking up the natter it would not cost much
and would be well carried into effect by the liberal mind
ed men in their employ. In immense valleys over this
country in the state of Mississippi the immense aluval
deposits proofs of what had been said He spoke of
the ruins Of the cypress forests found the banks Of the
Mississippi OF the proofs of successive growths on the
auvial SOIL OF the low site of New Orleans compared
with these depostes as bearing upon this question After
matter of great Importance that they should sink
no farther
Professor RoeERs still doubtful of the alleged rise
Of the New England coast There might have been pa
roxysmal elevations but they not continuous and
to the direction OF the land at present. he
pctey in the dark He thought II the matter were pro-
pery brought before government they would take it up
motion then carried for the nomination of a com
mittee whose duty would be to memorabilia the Secreta-
ny Of the Navy on the questions forming the subject mat