The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-16
ocIENcE IN AMERICA.


81 Science.
GoURrH DAY
CINCINNATI, May 8, 1851.
IAers Was very fall attendance ct the opening
C tA> meeting, this nsrning. Quite . number Of
lAAies wsre present.
TAs following pspsss we're road
OAtAs eject ftAs areas Of Oceanic Temperatures
- Aetseslogisal Phsnonsas. BY Captain T.
wilkes.
o. the geographical distribution Of some species
C Fruviasile Shells, By DR.. }. 5. Newberry.
o. the Longitude Of the Cincinnati Observatory.
by telexrsphic operations in connection with the
u 8. Coast Survey, By Professor O. NJ. Mitchell,
Director Of the Cinsinnsti Observatory
On the cause Of SAltpetre Explosions, By George
G.. ScAaeGsr, Professor Of Chemistry and Natural
PAlassphy. Centre College, Dsnvills, Kentucky
On tie chemical effects produced BY feeble Elec-
tsicsl Currents, by Daniel Vaughan.
GEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
SosOMor RoRsRTs, Esq, presented the following
report from Select Committee
Tho committee appointed to memorabilia the
Legislature Of Pennsylvania in reference to the
pa6iication Of the 6nal geological report Of that
State, respectfully report, that the important OBJ
ect contemplated in their appointment has been 50
Ter accomplished that al &C, was passed by the Lee
YiSlat1re Of Pennsysania, AT its last session, and
approved by the Governor, authorizing the publ
cation Of the npal geological report, in style
worthy Of the scientific importance the subject,
1t oontemplates expenditure Of thirty-two
hossasd dollars for the purpose. and the work Is
20 be done under the superintendence OF Professor
Heory ID. Rogers, the able geologist by whom the
Survey was made.
co.nus1cATIoS FROM TIE COMMISSIONER TO SUR
Wy BOUNDARY LINE IETwEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND MEXICO.
Prof BAcrfE presented the following abstract Of q
report from the officers OF this commission
Major Emory remarks that the importance 0 :
scientific works, undertaken by the government, a.
exYonents of the state VI science in the country at
AIRY particular period, cannot be overraed, and men
Of scseoce therefore interested and should b,
consulted in reg ard 10 the organization Of such
work.. He next describes the boundary, the organi
zat.on of the commission for its survey, and the
0perS;icns. These discussed under the heads Of
astSonsmy, topography, magnetism, geology,
minerals gy, botany, AID ethnotcgy. The method
" determining the hrst astronomical line from
the initial point the Pacific 10 the junction Of
she ella and Colorado, i stated, and satisfactory
reasons are assigned for the preference given to
the method Of determination adopted. The DIFF
ference Of latitude and longitude OF the two ex-
tremit.,s deter mined and the azimuth com
p0ted. The peculiar topography of the country re-
qaired the division Of the line into three sections,
demanding different instructions to be given for
their survey. The Ieputed mineral wealth Of the
country, and its rich botanical Stores called for
specia. attention 10 its geology, mneralogy and
botany, Meteorological observations were made
tA-o.ghou the exp. ait.on MAJ L. next gives an ac-
count Of the methods used IN the astronomical OBJ
servstiois. The latitude was observed with the
zenith telescope, BY TLcott's method, and gave,
for thu observatory a. Camp Riley. near the initial
loint Of the boundary the Pacific, 81 de ID min.
4: 80 sec The transfer Punta Iona gives, for the
latitude ofthat point, 81 deg 2nmin 20 The diff
ference OF longitude between the two extrem mites Of
The obtained by observations Of moon culmi-
nations snd occutntioIs, and wss also attempted by
ia, aethod of hasbes Mt intermediate stations. The
astronomical observ ations in the process of
complete reduction. Maj. J.. states that geodetic
opesations, in this region, are best carried on
fta ogny- thn - kgaafy ms
pAreot in the intervals between the rains. The bo-
tsaical collection wac made by Dr. G.. c. Parry,
sad sEe snder examination By Dr Torrey
PACIFIC RAILROAD ROUTE.
Me. or EMORY cioses by an interesting description
of the topography OF this region, and expresses the
opinion that If railway Is TO DC made within our
e~p territory passage exists noar tie I'D parallel
u latitude, by which SHOWS entirely avoided,
ard vhsr. 10 elevation occurs requiring tunnelling
or stationary power.
The Association took recess.
AFTERNos.N SESSION.
PrtOs 20 the read ng OF papers, the Association
sIect hour Ia the examination &C geological
sgecino.s submitted by Professor 81 John and
others. a-so, flint glass for optical Instruments,
ncfset1rcd In America, by ID. A. Wells, Of Har-
ssrd.
The Association came to order at four o'clock
and vG 6rst addressed by y. W. Foster, I nited
states Ceologist for the lard district Of Lake SUI
perior, on the different systems Of elevation which
have given CONFORMATION to North America. I'll
vii endeasor to send abstract Of this valuable
address to morrow -hEr
Professor BacHE presented " Notes on the Zenith
te,esspc ia deter mning ATTITUDES 10 the coast sur
seg, by TAlcotts method, end on the reduction Of
ths excavations The obtct Of this paper is =
spread The Of the Zenith telescope and Of Tai
colts method Z observers. using field instru-
men.s FOR the determr alton a. attitudes. 1t gives
the aeslods which the experience Of the coast sur
sey parties has round u be convenient 10 adjusting
and using the inst inents. in selecting The stars to
be observed, and in con Eiing aud comparing the
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