Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-08-26
Association for the Ad
vanCement Of Science.
SECOND DAYS SESSION

On Thursday the attendance was great
er than on the previous day. Most of the
scientific men Of the country were assem-
bled, prominent among which were Profs.
Agsssiz Of Cambridge, and Henry of
Washington. Several ladies too, devotees
of natural science, were also present.
The Association is divided into two Sec
tions, A. and B. The papers coming be-
fore section A. are usually too scientific to
be of interest to the general reader, being
abstract, chemical or philosophical theories
or mathematical problems. Section B.
has subjects of more general interest TO
the reader, and we shall give summary
Of some of the papers prerented, together
with the principal proceedings of the
meeting.
The Association was called to order at
half-past ten by the President. The first
business was the choice of two members
of the standing committee to fill the place
made vacant, according to the rules, by
the election of Professors Agsssiz and
Henry to the craftsmanship Of the Sec
tions.
While the votes were being counted the
President read an invitation from the mu-
nicipal authorities of Salem To an excur-
sion to take place ON Saturday in Salem
and Boston Harbor. Tie invitation was
accepted The President also announced
that in consequence of the great number
of papers offered for the consideration of
the association that ii would be necessary
to subdivide Section b, giving TO one part
the natural sciences and to the other Eth
biography, and that sessions would be held
this evening.
The names of twenty-eight gentlemen
were proposed as candidates for election 10
membership, and they were daily elected.
The address of the retiring President
will be delivered tomorrow Friday even
ing in the Tabernacle church.
President Caswell OF Brown University
and Professor Kerr of South Caroline
were chosen to fill the vacancies upon the
Standing Committee, aud the General
Association then adjourned.
The two sections then went TO work
npon their respective topics.
In section b the chair was taken by
Professor Agassiz, who announced that
the reading of the first paper upon the
programme, which Was upon Indian mi
gration-, would be deferred till the even.
ing. The next paper was upon Two
new Genera OF Extinct Cetacca." by Prof
f. ID. Cope, Of Philadelphia. The PROBES
sor exhibited some newly discovered re-
mains indicating type of mammalIi
which has not been before found, living
or dead lie also showed remains which
proved the existence Of man upon the
West India Islands at the same period of
the mastOdon
Professor Agas-il followed with some
remarks upon the origin Of embryonic
forms which he felt certain had no real
affinity with the Cetacea. He explained
the possibility Of the presence Of human
remains upon these insular spots, stating
the fact that these islands were once
portions of the main land Of South Amer
lea. When examining the mouth of the
Amazon he became satisfied that the sea
was eucroaching upon the land at very
rapid rate, and that several hundred miles
Of continental lands which were once
portion Of northeastern Brazil have been
swallowed up by the ocean. lie found
the same indications at the mouths If all
the principal rivers.
The next paper was by Prof l.. Moore
of Salem, "On the early stages of Brachi-
pods" The paper was qnite long, and
was said by Professor Agas-iz to be the
most important, in its bearings upon Zoo
logy. which he had heard for many years.
The third subject WAS upon The Dis
cnvery nf the Amrnnnoo@uc Gold Field ina
New Hampshire and Vermont" by Pro-
lessor c. III. Hitchcock Diagrams were
exhibited showing the range of this gold
field, which extends for long distance
between the two States. The first dis
covery was made about the year 1873
THE GEMS or AMERICA.
TIE last paper Of the morning session
was read by DIR. 4. c. Hamlin, Of Maine,
upon this subject.
With the exception Of the emerald, all
the gems in more or less profusIon are
found within the limits of the United
States The diamond has been found ia
California, among the Rocky Mountains,
and along the gold belt which extends
from central Alabama through the Allan
tic States to Maryland. The mairix Of
the diamond l. found in great hedges IN
different parts of Alabama, and many dia-
monds have been found there. There l.
no doubt that active and skillful research
for the diamond is not easily rccogniz-
able in its rough statc-will brlng TO light
many rare stones.
The garnet il found in many If the 1
States, and OF sufficient purity for the pur
ity for the purpose Of the lapidary. At
Fitchburg, Massachusetts, beautiful py-
ropes are found IN the alluvial sands
also in Delaware Co, Pa, all along the /
Rocky Mountain slope, and at Pixies 1
Peak. Fine garnets are found in Maine
and New Hampshire and in many other
places, but they are rarely sufficiently I
perfect for ornaments. The topaz has
been found at Trumbull and Middletown, I
CT, but they are 50 small as to be useless. 1
The amethyst occnrs in rare perfection ia 4
various parts Of the United States also 1
several varieties of opal. The beryl. the I
sub-species of the emerald, is found in
many parts of the country-in great per-
lection in Maine, and more especially in
the granite lodges in FItchburg and
Royalston, Mass.
DIR. Hamlin read long account Of the
stone, the finest specimens
Of which are sold at the price Of the ruby,
the most costly Of gems. The finest zpe-
cimens Of this stone in the world have
been found in Mt. Mica, in Maine. a re-
locality, where within the space
Of few feet were found specimens OF
nearly all the rare gems of the world
There is no 0xem in the world that sur
passes the tourmaline in the variety Of its
colors, and its hardness quite equals the
which it surpasses in retroactive
power.
After reading his paper, which was an
statement of the localities OF
the deposits of precious stones in thir
DIR. Hamlin exhibited to the A.
ISOLATION magnificent "parure." consist
ing OF necklace, breast pin and earrings,
which surpasses in rarity and value any
thing that has ever been produced In
America. 1t contains altogether nearly
one hundred and fifty gems, one Of which
"a red tourmaline-is alone worth more
than a thousand dollars, and whose daz-