The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-10
Association OF American biologists and
NaturaIists.
New HAVEN, Thursday Morning,
May 1, 1915.


took the chair al 9a O'clock, and immedi-
ately called the meeting to order. The Secretary
read the minutes of the session OF Wednesday after
noon, which were adopted.
The business committee reported, through Pro-
lessor Rogers, and offered programme for the
morning session, and recommended that the me-
moral addressed to the Secretary of the Navy, by
committee appointed for that purpose, should be first
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 document
itself Its object to induce the government to
set foot under the direction of naval officers of
the United States, comprehensive series of obser-
vations 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 animated the alleged existence OF
large shoa on the Florida coast of counter
the Atlantic as well supposed to set IN from
the Chinese Sea to the Northern Pacific. II also
strongly recommended systematic course OF obser
vatlons on the formation of shoals, corals, moliusca
and all marine productions; on the altitude, decllna
ton, right ascension, &c, 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
PRrsDEsr-what order will you take on this report
II is open for discussion.
The report adopted and, motion Of the Secre-
tary, the committee continued till year.
The PREspErr said that the subject called for any in
muncae pause If there are no remarks marks to be-
made we VIII proceed to the business next in order Mr.
Secretary Here are papers aking them from the secre
tary) the subject of drifts also, paper chain of
cratic rocks in Massachusetts
Mr. REED read the paper S on the eatc rosksd ns
scenery and ended by conessing his inability to account
for the origin of these rocks.
Prof HITCHCOCK observed that he had accompanied Mr..
Reed in his observations and could not account for their
curious appearances. The line many miles long, and
pearance and the theory of drift it strange the
= fragments not rounded, but quite angular. He
tcfpated some developments from the geological survey
OF Vermont How could these bouders be transported?
Water could not do tit incapable of srewing them
along over hills for course of forty miles, Nor could
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 found dispositions Of every kind of rock
found the shores of Lake Superior both angular and
rounded. Some of them were brought by in
action but the most elevated were Of ancient
origin, and formed when the Lake stood at much
higher level it certainly did at time. When this
country covered with water, the water would bring
great boders from place to place and believing that
the ice islands of the Atlantic capable of transport
ing any Of rock, he disposed to regard the
agency OF masses ice in deposng these chains Of
ratio rocks as probable.
The PRESIDENT said that the difficulty ofths subject
the magnitude OF these Of rock The chain of
hills between Connecticut and Massachusetts arose be-
tween one thousand and hundred feet and was
hard suppose the transportation OF these isolated
Dr. BARRArr called the attention of Professor Hitch
cock to immense bouders Of rounded FORM and of spe
ces of yellow quartz in the region Of his observations
He would ask if there were any means of ascerainng
Tho lava nft tho Cnn rIpn
HIS attention had been directed to the height of the Con-
nectcut river from the fact that the river Nile
found to be "a feet lower than it 900 years ago
Professor HIrcHcocK said that the terraced valleys
the borders of the Connecticut was the only thing to
throw light the subject From all he knew there
change the level Of that streama least within the
memory ofman.
Dr. Jackson referred to a chasm through which the
Merrmack flowed and which led to the influence that its
thousand feet higher at former period than
now, In Grafton, Orange County, there were wells
found high ridge, showing that water must have been
flowing there at period when perhaps the level Of the
continent was very much lower than at present.
Professor SrLLMAN observed in reference to the drift
theory that he uncommtted any theory he would
observe that they not accustomed to attribute
enough Importance to the agency of ice and water in
had seen an ice island several miles in extent and of
mense height In the Antarctic friend had coast
ed along ice island for seventy miles, and unable
TO round it, Such enormous OF floating ice would
be adequate to transport all the rocks spoken Of and in
view of this he thought they should attach impor
lance to there forces although they might not all cases
be able to clearly explain their action
opinions from Professor Sllman In Southern Ocean
arend of his had sailed whole day along island
that the more they knew of these Islands the more thew
would be satisfied with the agency Of ice in transporting
rocks according to the views stated Frequently smaller
of ice had been seen bearing of boudrs
and they were not always to attribute the removal of
these boulders to the largest ice islands.
D. REED arose to explain particulars, which he
had omitted in relation the position the erratc rocks
which he had reported In the Richmond valley these
bouders were found sting upon another elevation forty
feet high showing that there have been power in
action to form this elevation previous to that which pro-
duced the boulders
Professor HITcHcocK dubious on the successive
passage OF tides waves in the track
for distance of forty miles and such suppositon
necessary to account for the detached position of these
erratic rocks without the agency of icebergs
Dr. s. REED was pleased with the suggestion of the
gentleman he had given his views not because he
was perfectly satisfied with them but they the
best he found.
hon of ice islands in Lake Superior and pointed the
curious fact Of portion Of earth containing copper being
found at - River, although there copper ore
found any spot the borders of the lake unless
Isle Royal 40 miles distant from the isolated and evident
ly transported mass alluded to-
Professor RoDGERs admired the assiduity evinced
by the gentleman, in treating the subject In rela
ton to the main point the subject Of drift rocks
he would read few remarks Of his Breads q de-
scrption of four different hypohesis All these theories
presupposed the entire submergence Of the continent
former period He had before challenged any member of
the Society prove that the level continent was
than 100 feet lower than present In the
lies of the Ohio Mississippi there were no marine de-
posits remains to prove it. At Albany in the Cham
plain valley, at West Point, and along all the northern
rivers there found marine shells in abundance but
IN other parts this essential proof wanting and he
thought il little to dwell upon these theories
about drift rocks proof that the globe SUBJ
merged they could not prove the Inferior level of
mountains at former period Before theyspeculaed upon
the removal Of rocks by ice they must first bring down
the hills to the level of the ocean, when the could
operate upon their masses. They were that the
tide crossed the globe twice in "a hours there
We're however, other waves. Recently, having occa-
sion to examine volcanic action in the case of the earth
quake of Lisbon it ascertaned that the tide wave
caused by volcanic action known to move with a
velocity of 30 miles hour Under these circumstances
how simple was it to account for the theory of the
removal of rocks by these immense earthquake pillows
The difficulty Of properly approaching the force of
there physical dynamcs could only be surmounted by
extending their ideas of the of their force
degree commensurate with the resistance encountered
10 annle in Tho irocf Of drin