New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-17

oven in scientific discussions for Mr. lockyer doe"
not seem ~ dwell on tho fact that the results OBJ
tanned by tho two American parties last year IN
Sicily those headed by Prof. Piercc and by froi'
Hardness considerably exceeded In value all that
| the EngliShmen. of whom Mr. Lockyer was one' Nc
complishcd And something was said about a strug-
clio between France Germany, and England, ~ to
who should sec most Of the next eclipse "noh VIII
occur in December.
CHEMICAL SCIENCE.
In obcmica scienco thenotablc addresses have been
ono nv tho President Of the section, Prof Andrews,
giving an account of the progress of chemical re-
search and emphasizing the enormous advance, in
deed tho revolution which has upon this great
| branch of modern science. The change could
scarcely be more impressed upon ones mind than by
remark which heard. yesterday, in conversation
with one of the most qualified to speak such
matters-that probably Liebig would never bring
his mind TO grasp che new chemistry. Why, for
nine Americans out of ten all chemistry is summedu up
and personifed IN Lebig, agricultural chemistry
above all, and now we are to accept the statement
that progress has passed the great veteran, the
daring dscoverer by, and that Liebig, with facul-
ties still vigorous, is too Old too welded to his
old notions, to lead to accompany the latest
thinkers among those who have been his
disciples Tho United States having an AS
ISOLATION of their own for the advancement
of Science or for some other reason, send few
representatives to this meeting. The first paper
notice from an American that of Mr.. Gilbert
Wheeler, Professor of Chemistry in the University
Of Chicago giving good account of recent progress
of chemistry in the United States and showing fur
Their how much the manufacture of Chemicals for
which we were formerly dependent on Europe. had
increased, that sulphate of guinine, calomel,
hromine, and chloroform, all of which few years
ago were altogether imported, now manufactured
almost entirely at home. He estimates tho annual
production of chemicals in the United States at
double what it was ten years ago-a statement which
even a British Free-TTade audience had the good
sense to applaud.
GEOLOGY.
The address of the President of the Geological
Section Prof Grke, was mainly local. A report OF
the operations of the well-known Kent's Caven,
Cornwall was presented by Mr. Pengelly. To return
to the Biological Section DR.. Beddoe brought for
ward the reasons for his belief in the Degeneration of
Race in Great Britain and what ought to DO done
to arrest this decay, while Sir Duncan GlDD
furnished sort Of counterpart IN discussion upon
Centenaran LOngevity leading us to conclude that
though the race-and 1T IS our race may lessen IN
SIZE it furnishes striking examples OF long hte
But why need we despair of increasing In bulk also
when the same authority is able to assure us that
the fat woman now exhibiting in London is mira
Gle of health and muscular development.not merely
of obese accumulatiOnf The name OF Col. inle
President of Section E. Geography must be familiar
to bookbuyng Americans as the editor OF the latest
and in every way most remarkable edition OF Marco
tiona Presidents Col. Yules will be found to give
condensed and readable account of what has been
done in his department during the year. 1t may be
read in company with such papers as those of Dr.
Hooker on the Atlas Range, OF Commander Dundas
Taylor on the proposed ship Canal between Ceylon
and India, of Mr.. Palmer on the Geography OF Moab,
and on the Geographical Distribution of Petroleum
and similar substances by Col. Maclagan.
Economic Science and Statistics the great subjects
thought and effort of to-day as anything within the
range of the Association, The student VIII flnd
of Min IN thu fo ps of Iord NSaSe
in which the more purely scientific aspect OF eco
nomical questions is discussed not less prohtabiy'
than the Truck system and that ever pressing ques
ton of pauperisni-a topic which may goout OF
my way for a moment to recommend to Amerlcans
ago. Sir John Bowring, nothing disheartened by
his recent defeat in Parliament, read the report OF
his committee in favor OF the Metric system, which,
or something like which, the country squires will
some day have to accept. They are race who can
| not always vote down everything Free Trade;
which belongs here has been but slightly touched
more important than the lament over the,
return of France, to her old Protection
ment from theoretical economists that France
should prefer the prosperity OF her own Pr9ducers
ana 1ne o tbe KIND Of reliance upon Great Britain
and the acceptance of British theories 10 WHICH inc
| Golden Treaty bound her.
| MECHANICAL SCIENCE.
| Lastly comes mechanical science-put last as II
the
notion-was it of Plato or Pythagoras or another
still that science was only worth following so long
as il contributed nothing of human welfare. Pro-
lessor Jenkin the President at any rate, is not OF
that mind. He urges-as England has begun every
where to urge-the technical training OF artisans,
and an education that shall put them ON level
with their Continental competitors. Papers full OF
instruction were read by Mr.. Il. d. Morrison on the
warming and ventilation OF buildings by Mr. r. W. WI
arrived at considerable degree OF per1ectloh, Inc
subject is one of such special interest that may
quote a brief account of what was SAID
ROAD , Steamers and The dcues which had
it Sese IN maohne uniformity in the working Of
the engine having been reached thick carpet Oh hla
much improved the running roads, These inda-rub
Der tires not ony completely prevented hard shocks 70
grinding action of the iron wheels, which was
injurious to by-ways There had oeen serious hS
the people interested In the roads, but the au
thor could assure them that the ndlaraoDer sfes
rigid tires used for road steamers and stated that
1nueh less than by the ndia-rubber kind me later
kind took firm hold Of the road, whatever might be the
diarub6er tires did not work well was where the soil
extremely wet OF OF very soft nature For farwork
inda-rubber The paper afterward alluded TO the
petition with traction engines at the Royal Agricultural
Mr. smith, Liverpool said he believed that next to
railway engineering there was scarcely question of so
much Importance that Of the application OF steam
power on the common road Persons interested In
roads especially preudiced against road steamers
straeed traction engine Of the kind spoken Of by Mr.
Thomson would rather improve than injure the roads
Mr. Bramwe after referring TO the general c0nstruc
ton of Mr.. Hancocks traction engine said he was one
of the engineering judges at the Northampton Show
at which Mr.. Th0msOn's engine and many others were
tried. 1t was tried as farm-steamer and not as
IL had been said that engines with rigid
wheels had gone the course first, and made the
road bad for the engines with inda-rubber tires II
that were true ii equally true that the engine
which did the best work with rigid wheels India
rubber tires however, exercised tracve force, which
they did not know of In other substance. They had
in them 1at-bearng substance coming in actual con-
tact with the road and thereby taking OF materially the