The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-05

course OF the comet nothing but luminous stream
irom the nucleus, but having further coanec
s MIN h, IMAM volume Of smoke has with the Dire
u interesting discussion took place on this subiact
COMM S ~ pr a. Gould and participated In BY 80.
we're so abs use and lengthy that they canoot - -a
condensed WAS NY bsSea, 2 the general reader
Waters by B. Harrison. On beginning his p,per NJ,
Harrison observed that perhaps subject was ABOUT
persons but as the association had been long Occupied
with the head and tail Of fiery object supposed there
would be no objection 70 little ice TO cool them
people residing in the INTERIOR near to rivers and as
have frequently found that fields Of ice have been brokek
up suddenly lead 70 great surprise aud variety
OF faDcu theories One gentleman who bad studied ths
question: had stated that Ice Lake Champlan had dis
appeared single night Being satisfied that this effect
had regular causes ike all other natural objects he
begun course Of investigations on small lake, and thu
result OF bis inquiries went coucusvey to show that the
concentrated heat at the bottom Of the lake. arising from
the earth the active cause Of the rapid decomposition
Of the ice when on the approach OF spring the waters are
Professor HoRsFoRD took an objection to this theory
and rather oontended that solar heat produced the effect
in conjunction with the action OF water and the heat
from the bottom OF the pond Other gentle men COIN
cided IN this view. 1fr9
1cehouses and Frozen Wells" This interesting
paper evncng much research into the of the
matpn Of In mines aud other subterraneous places
during winter and its continuance there during summer
The cold air Of winter desceuds into these depths aud
freezes tDe wafer these localities there
are no springs running through them the ice has frequent
remained until april and July 10 places Joe
ormed in winter in these mines has until Sep
ember, and in some few during the whole year
The formation OF ice in wells is regulated by similar
principles That the cold AIR OF wnier descends into
the smoking OF wells. That all wells do not freeze in
winter is accounted for that wells are suppedby strong
springs and the water frequently changes the process
OF freezing Is mpeded Springs are always running into
One Of the members objected to the theory on the
ground that wells that do not freeze very common.
whereas frozen wells very rare. he then went
to discuss the arguments, showing that Professor
LOOMS had not Satisfactorily accountedfor
aud wells which have kept warm during all winter. He
the entrance cold and the discharge Of hot air any
than the vapor from teakettle when placed on stove
ExPresiden HTcacocE also took some Digestion to the
theory Of Professor Loomls, ich he said excel
lent and philosophical but yet presented some ser
Gus difficulties Interference TO frozen wells
Professor LOOMS said that all these difficulties had
senrd themselves TO his mind and he had resolved them
in perec.iy satisfactory manner He then proceeded 70
the several objections The objection to the theory
of cold air dspacrg hot air and vapor from the bottom
of wells ne looked upon invalid his theory has fully
to restae his leading arguments and to combat in regular
order the opposing views of The other members.
AT the termination of this discussion the sectos ad
journed till half past four.
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B, DEVOTED TO NATURAL
HISTORY AND GEOLOGY.
On the opening Of this section Colonel Foster ap-
pointed chairman Of the day.
Mr.. C. H HrrcHcoCK read paper, which occupied .
very short time relative 10 The "synchronism Of Coal Beds
10 the Rhode Island aud Western United States Coal Ba
sins" The tendency of this argument TO show that
close analogy exists between the fossils plants and the
vsous strata forming the coal beds in the eastern and
coal basins. Mr.. Hitchcock ko read paper on
the geology Of Newport.
Professors ROGERS and AoAsz and Dr. NEwnERRY seve-
rally differed from the views propounded by Mr.. Hitch
cock reference the Identity Of the carbouferous de-
posts found in different portions Of the country Although
they were willing admit that there wins analogy
between the different formations they would not hold 10
the theory Of direct identity.
Professor EDWARD HncHoocK then read a pa
per giving some additional facts respecting
the chalhrspters of East Hampton and in dra wing at
press h. surprise al finding thai the STRUCTURE Of tho
plant hard and unyieiding, the sandstone depe
M hs 0", ss s A N crses S
strata totally unaffected by the superncum weight
He then ted for the inspection Of the members Of
the section curious and remarkable granular quartz
boulder which he had received from Michigan The
rosy attracted much attention On the boulder being
opened, the centre was found 70 consist OF ridges
dulations succeeding each other in remarkable
None Of the members could explain the causes Of The
strangely beautiful appearance o. the boulder, although
| formation.
Professor EbwARp HITCHCOCK followed with another pa.
per- descriptive Of breciated tracyh dykes sheburne,
Vermont, with special reference TO their temperature
when formed The chief interest of this paper was cen
/
| ing the metamorphoss Of rocks 10 the dyke
under consideration, the Professor said thai
question Is, how did these come there. evident
that they were never cast up, and In his opinion they
| must have been produced by heat in an ocean bed.
Professor AGAssz made general remarks 10 eiecit
the opn ms Of other members but no new features
The session Of section closed with the reading OF the
following papers, by the gentlemen whose names ere
Upon Diatomaceous Earth from nottingham, Calvert
county, Md. BY G. johnson, Of Baltimore.
Jottngs on the Geology Of the eastern part OF Maias,
On the recent discovery, by Mr.. Norman E.ssop, q
Fossils in the consomerae Of Taunton river BY w. B.
| Rogers.
On the Origin stratgraphica reatioosof the Trap.
pean rocks OF Lake superio, by j. W. Foster and b.
These papers were very brief, and the section soon
aftcr adjourned.
| AFTERNOON SESSION.
Section having concluded their days busir ess the
association met together IN the apartments Of section
| Professor W. ID Rooms presented and read a paper
meter, invented BY James Lewis, Of Mohawk, New
| York Although the instrument itself may require
though, sbas was an invention rs .0y ~ %
| the attention cf the society. The inventor now
heorrg bard to bring the Thermometer 70 perfection,
he he Prossor had consented TO prcseat the present
| paper in his name He theu entered into tccbn4cd
description OF the new but ~ yet imperfect instru
mcnL
Some questions relating to The mechanism Of the shss
mometer were put and answered BY the Professor and
Professor JOIN IxooSrE then read excellent paper
the "Pheromena presented by the Silver spring In
Marion county Florida The tendency Of this paper
Va show that all the popular ideas In regard 70 the
supernatural character Of the had existence IN
fact He described the beautiful and perfectly enchanting
appearance Of the waters md ts highly daphanous
ter, excmpyng its uansucency BY stating that The NRv
YoRK HksArp least the larger type OF thai papes
could be read at the bottom OF the water. The depth
the sprng had been varously estimated but there
variety of for the difference Of opinion anoog
people The Professor then explained bow places
the water appears deeper than really h. and In others
shaower, giving the usual scientific explanation Of tbs
refaction Of Thus all the mysteries Of is waters
vanish under the investigation OF science The daphs
nous properties OF u waters perennial, and not
any way disturbed by the Seasons BY rain, or By The
rushing OF waters through the country.
Mr. T. N; Hossvosp read paper entitled, "CAn ths
sudden cooling of part of metallic rod another
part consequence suddenly 10 become warm" This
h clearly proved In the Affirmative.
Mr. II c.rn read very wei selected paper on '.In