Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-23
SCIENCE.
Conclusion Of The Report OF the American
Scientific Association.

| dClaOu Mhc AANdLAdhll III Tic 4AACN1AOA
OF the ideal line which connects the
elements. This view, Mr.. Elliott
deemed too limited and incomplete.
The more complete statement OF the
law demanding action in various di-
rectiOns in space, according to the
VARYING relative directions of the ele-
ments. The restricted law, as ordi-
nsrily given, was inconsistent with
the generally acknowledged principle
of the conversation OF force, whereas,
the completed statement, as now Civ
en-, was in full accord with this prin-
ciple. The iDcOmpletenes5 OF the law
of electric action, as hitherto given
/ and known as that Of Ampere, had
been asserted by the eminent English
/ electrician Faraday, who was obliged
to superadd TO it another, which he
called the law Of angular forces. The
/ complete law, as now proposed, em-
braced in one simple expression all
| that was essential TO the incomplete
| law of Ampere, and the supplemental
law of Faraday. The paper was Illus
trated by diagrams and analytical
| formula.
Papers were also read by Professor
RDckWoOd. on the probable age of
I LLhllCN" 4 4OAs " eNAAAAAE
the circulation. of electrical and chem
ical force; bv Prof. Ennis, on meteors;
by Prof. J. Z. Hilgard, on the distri-
button Of the population in the United
States.
The last paper read in section b
was by Professor Cox, entitled "COal
Measures and Indiana Coal" From
q study OF the geology of the West
he was led to conclude that carbon
ifer0us rocks, interlacing the coal
beds both of the Appalachian and
Western coal fields were formed in
two great depressiOns that gave rise
to large inland seas, which c0mmu.
nicated with the ocean south and
west, extending far up the Mississip-
pi valley and covered most OF the
Southern States. a high ridge or
plateau of silverian rocks lying in a
hOrtheasterly direction across the
States of Tennessee and Kentucky
and along the Western border Of Ohio
and eastern Indiana, separated the
two seas, and spread out over the
northern portion SChe two latter
/ States, extended GhtO Pennsylvania
east and Illinois and Iowa west,
! formed an almost unbrOken chain
along their northern shores. In these
seas were formed the sub.car-
boniferous rocks, and as the
water became shallow from accumu-
lated sedimentary material that went
to build them up, barrier was formed
which shut out the ocean and cut OF
the salt water supply. Facilitated by
drainage the waters of these seas be-
came less bTackish, and the conditions
necessary for the accumulation OF the
coal navigation were brought about
so gradually that many of the marine
forms of life continued to exist, and by
degrees accommodated themselves to
the new order of things. Discoveries
of marine forms of life have been
made by deep dredging in lakes Erie
and fresh water lakes in Europe.
From this it may be inferred that the
North American lakes at one time
communicated with the ocean. In
Indiana there are two well defined
zones, eastern and western, and though
an equivalency in some OF the seams
Is closely traced from one to the other,
vet the quality OF coal is quite distinct
/ ia esehs that in the eastern zones
belongs to the bitCminOus variety
characterized as the nOn-caking or
free burning. 1t has received
the local name of the Black
Coal. given il by miners. The supe-
riOr excellence OF the Black Coal for
smaIting aud working iron and
steel ia all the varied branches Of
their manufacture, has been fully es-
tsblished by practical tests. Pig iron
made with this coal is, 10 every re-
saect, equal to charcoal iron made
from the same ore, 1t is q soft, greasy
iron, of q highly crystalline structure,
and contains a large per centage OF
combined carbOne with but a mere
trace of sulphur and phosphorus prop
| critics. which renders ii admirably
adapted for the manufacture Of Besse-
meT steel. Tie western zone OF Goals
in Indiana comprises by far the great
eat area. and contains thrSe or more
very thick beds OF coal, besides NUM-
Der that are too thin for working, but
taken altogether the,maXimum thick
ness of these beds may be estimated al
twenty feet, and will yi5ld on an aV'
erage, over the greater part OF ths elS'
trict, of ten feet Of cOai.
LAST DAY.
The Convention met at ten O'clock
President Gray in the chair. The
Standing Committee reported four
teen names for membership, making
the total new membership this ses-
sion one hundred and siXty-fOur. the
Standing Committee also submitted
the following ticket for members oi
the official board for next year, who
elected President Professor J. Law
renee Smith, of Louisville, KY
Vice President, Alex. Winchel, Ol
Ann ArbOr, Mich. Permanent Secre-
tary, Professor Jas. LOWring, OF Cam
bridge, Mass; General Secretary,
Professor +. s. Morse, Of Salem
Mass: Treasurer, VIM. s. Naux, Of
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. Auditing Com
, mittee. Messrs. Eustis and Whatland,
of Massachusetts. Professor u. Il. Cox
announced that arrangements have
been made for tO-moFrow's excursion
marty 10 pass directly TO the Nam
moth Cave, instead OF stopping on the
2 Vay at New Orleans as was first con
tampisted, the excursion train leaV'
ing Indianapolis tomorrow at $3.50 IN
; the morning.
Prof. T. Sterg Hunt stated that su-
perficial changes are continually COINS
on in the region OF Niagara Falls
gradually changing the outline Of the
: Falls, and In view OF this TACT he suo
mitted the following resolution; which
was adopted:
: RssoIged, That the important chang
es going on ia the surtace OF the geol
: OQV OF Niagara Falls are such that IL i
q highly desirable that re-survey O
2 the Falls should be made; the old
l monuments restored and new one
I erected and large photographs OF the
! locality be taken; and further, that IL
{ pursuance of this plan the Legislature
D of New York be memOrialized TO or
q der such a survey 30 be made. DR.
7 Hurt named the following as q com
I mittee ON memOrializlng the New
y York Legislature: f. A. p. Barnard
9 Chairman; Chas. =. Daley, Prof. Geo
! w. Holley, Prof. jas. Hall and sll
q w, Z. Logan, of Canada. InasmucE
9 az Canada is interested with the
] State OF New York In th'
d preservation OF the monuments
2 resolution was also adopted tina
] q committee OF Ave be appointed 4
g reooFt at the next meeting OF the As
Q ISOLATION on the best methods OF or
g oaniZing and conducting State geo
IooieaI surveys, and making publica
fion Of the results. PrOfs. Swallow
q Hall. NeWbury, Winehell and Hur
p we're appointed such COMMITTEES.
e The General Session then adjOurne'
's to meet in sectlons.
3 Section B--PrOi. James Hall, snt
10 mitted bis remarks on the OatsAn
n red sandstone group, Is II occurs o
y the borders OF PennsylVanla, Whic
5 gave rise to q brief discussion, pSrtle