The Portland daily press., 1873-08-21

EnSidnu coast, luentlcal Wltn Norln Luiopedu
| species. Some information upon the localities
were given. The points of difference were de-
scribed, several species were exhibited and the
| astrological character pointed out This elic-
| tied some discussion.
| T. Sterry Hunt then read "Notes on the geol-
| ogy and economine mineralogy OF the south
| eastern Appaachians. The author began with
| a brief sketch of the physical geography of
| that mountain region which borders on the
| southeastern side of the Appalachian valley
| from southern Virginia to northern Georgia.
| The prevalence over much of this region of
| mica, schusts and gneiss was noticed and their
| character described.
The drift phenomina of the north are here
unknown and the rocks retain their original
positions but are much dec opposed. The ma
| ture of this chemical change was described. 1t
| is dry in detail Why had the similar rocks of
New England escaped the same changes? The
| author thought the change had been produced
before the arosion of the glacial period. From
| the northern rocks the traces have been swept
| away, while the shore of the south escaped
such action, being beyond the limits OF tne
| glaciers.
But the author was not absolutely assured on
| this point, merely, prefering this view to GER
| tain Others After describing the mineral de-
posts of these appalachian rocks, Dr. HUT
| called attention to their great economic value.
| He called attention especially to the phos-
nhates of South Carolina, the copper deposits
at Duchtown, Tenn, the vast beds of pyrtes
| available for the manufacture of acids which
| lie hidden within he mountains of the Blue
| Ridge
DR.. Scudder read paper furnished by Prof.
Meehan on ''Hermaphrodism'' in Rhus cotinus
| (the mist tree) and in Rhus glalra 1.-THE common
sumac.) He took the ground that the mist
| tree was deciduous.
| Theodore Gill read paper furnished by Ed
ward d. Cope on ''Some extinct types of horn
ed PerIsodatyls.''
Prof. Charles Whittlesay furnished paper
| on the ratio of increase in the human race,
| with its hearing on the date of its origin. He
| took the ground that if we could determine
| the number of people existing upon the earth
| at periods of time widely asunder, the general
rate or ratio of increase could be obtained.
This would consti,u ute a mathematical series,
diminishing backward; till it would terminate
at the period OF mans origin, on the SUPPOSE
| tion that there was but one pair Of progenitors.
| But the increase has not been regular and rap
| id. From the commencement of the Christian
| era TO the beginning of the present century the
| increase has been very small. If the human
race was no more prolific prior to to the Christ
ian era than it has been since, the day OF its
| origin can readily be put back to the close OF
| the glacial period. If we admit the Creatot
| originated species as soon as the earth was in
fit condition for their self-exlstence, the period
of the genesis of man must have been at least
as early as that last change in the condition of
| the earth. The conclusions of the paper were
drawn from comparisons of census tables ana
from historical records.
A paper was furnished by A. S. Packard Jr
on the embryolgy and morphology of Limulus.
A paper on the cause of the transient fuctu-
ations Of level on Lake Superior was furnished
by Prof. Whittlesey. The result of observa-
A. a. C civ
en-, showing their period, and general refer
ence made to the motion of the atmosphere
and of fluids in fluctuations. The general
| cause of such movements is to be found in the
unequally heated condition of the earth, the at
mosphere and the water. In conclusion he
said that the transient oscillations of the water
are due to the undulatory movement of the
Others
The section then adjourned.
EVENING EXERCISES.
A ra ther small audience assembled at City
Hall in the evening to hear the address of well
come, and the reply of the President of the
Association. Mayor Wescott introduced Judge
Kingsbury, Chairman of the local committee
who proce eded to deliver the
WELCOMING ADDRESS.
Mr.. President, ladies and gentlemen of the
American Association for the Advancement of
Science.
The agreeable duty of rendering to you
this public expression of the cordial good
will of the citizens of Portland towards you
personally, and your distinguished organization
has been assigned me, by His Honor the May
or, and the local committee.
During the long period of your existence as
an association, one emphatic word has been
the keynote of your reception wherever you
have held your sessions and that word is well
come! 1 would L could find some other equal
| ly expressive to indicate the sentiments of our
citizens. But, though our grand and flexible
and "opious language ordinarily affords a
broad field of expression, am nevertheless re-
manded back to the honored old fashioned and
time worn word therefore extend to you in
behalf of the citizens of Portland, citizens
its women as well as its men, its old men and
children, its young men and maldenS, a cordial
welcome to our city, in no formal ond pesfano--
tory sense, but genuinely from our hearts.
Judge Kingsbury proceeded to say that Port
land people cons dered the meeting of the As
ISOLATION here as the highest honor ever con-
ferred on the city. Tie association is remodel
ing the textbooks of science. 1t is sweeping
away ancient traditions and preconceived ideas.
1t is opening the minds to the reception of Di-
vine knowledge. 1t is indicating the ways OF
God to man, and opening the sealed book. One
of the incidental benef fits of the association is
its influence upon young men and women of
our land. We of Portland are not unmindful of
the fact that we are indebted to members OF
your association for important services. AS
for instance the important scientific werk in
our harbor by Professors Pierce and whitney,
which has resulted in showing us how to save
the harbor from deterioration. They have
given us testimony concerning every foot OF
water territory and flats which it is safe to oc
cupy and turn into productive real estate. This
| is an instance of the highest kind of practical
science.
We have welcomed you to Portland with ex-
cusable pride in its harbor, its bay, its islands
| and it's surrounding mountains You have
| come to State which borders the eastern ex-
| tremIty of the continent and which is known
more by its location and limited productions
| than by it's historical renown. But it was
once a part of Massachusetts. and the honor
which attaches to that commonwealth is shar-
ed by us.
| Maine presents the largest water power,
probably on this continent. Its bosom is laden
| with mineral wealth, and the time is fast COM
| ing when we shall be able to satisfy the world
| that Plymouth Rock has no just claim to its
historical evidence, and that on the shores of
| Maine people of England landed years before
! the keel of the Mayaower was cut from the
| forest.
Judge Kingsbury then renewed his express
| sion of welcome.
PRESIDENT LoYERINGs ADDRESS.
President Lowering responded, saying that the
| StupendOuS pendulum OF this ASSOCIATION as at
| last in its ever lengthening swing, reached the
| eastern extremity, and the day is not distant
| when it shall touch the Pacific. After coolin e
| ourselves by the sea and lakes, we have braved
| the heat of the West. But we always found a
| there greater warmth in the hearts of the
| people. There is no land more than the peer of
| this beautiful city, with its wonderful natural
| scenery. A few hours touring VIII bring us to
| spots where we may examine the dredging of
the sea fresh from the deep, or we may visit the
| wonderful Mt. Desert, with its confusion of
land and sea scenery,i its aurora of almost arctic
| frequence. This association has but one great
| object and thaHs the advancement of science
| 1t comprises more than five hundred members
| Few can claim to be discoveries but no man
| who labors will fail to be rewarded in the adj
vancemenL of science. We have a few to speak
| and many to listen. All are of great use in the
| work of the body. Any experiment which
| makes a law of nature more palpable, any fact,
however small, any investigation, however mi
croscopic, finds ready welcome. We leave to
the association the work of diffusing informa-
| ton. The press can do this best. Nor do we
regard utility. Others twill profit by the dis
cussions. Men of science cannot serve two
maste.s. 1t is dangerous to think of remunera-
ton. When Faraday found himself able to
take fortune he gave it up and devoted him
self to science, leaving his noble calling so that
one great pang of grief followed his cessation
| Of labor. Ittwas not the lightning rod which
made Franklin famous, but his investigations