New-York tribune., 1874-12-22
GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCHES
WORK OF TIE AMERICAN SOCIETY.

WORK OF The AMERICAN SOCIETY.
HEADQUARTERS FOR TRAVELLERS AND EXPLORERS
?RorosED-PIANs FOR A BANQUET-THE SOCIETY
TO DE REPRESENTED AT THE GEOGRAPHICAL
CONGRESS IN PARIS.
The American Geographical Society of this
city now has membership Of more than l4oo persons
the number Of members having boen very largely
Increased within year. broader and more active
policy has marked its recent history than that
which formerly prevailed There have boen times ih
the existence Of the Society which has had iire OF
little than quarter OF century. when ts iurtner
activity and usefulness seemed somewhat uncertain
but It's later efforts to advance the interests OF expor
ing expeditions aud OF scientific travel to extend anu
increase the attention paid by the public TO such WORK.
to form as far possible BOND OF sy"
pathy and fellow feeling between noted traVelers
and explorers and to bring the results OF geograpo
research and OF other efforts to advance the knowedee
Of the earth to tho attention Of many, In wedRes'eu
and useful form have met with cordial approval auu
hearty support 1t has grown In influence ana hohor
and for place IN the roll OF members applications aro
sti coming in from army and naval omcerS n'e,eo'.
in travel and from other men VINO reel an in'ois ~
concern In all the higher movements OF tue "m0'
library of the Geographical Society," con'ainou " ~ ~
rooms at the Cooper Institute now numbers over looW
voumes and is very choice collection OF WORKS upon
tbe tonics esp.ciay In the sphere Of the Society.
beeu collected with long labor and its fulness ana eAcef
Iepce arc largely due to the EFFORTS OF 'ne
President, ChietJustice Charles r. DaIY.
fine portrait Of Judge DAILY has just been nnisnea py
b. f. Reinhart, aud will be hung In tho societSS
rooms without cost to the Society. Mr. he'hna'' ua'
also painted Q portrait Of DR.. Livingstone Ior
the Society," and his grauiOus labors are indicative OF
the interest shown In the Society by numerous members
of liberal professions In the Society collection are TWO
thousand maps and charts and number OF curosites
Of travel from Iceland and other parts OF the world
ia hoped that day not very far In the future tne
Society may be able to build suitable building In some
such centrally convenient place rs the VI
Madison square, where the advantages OF its library
will be more readily enjoyed, and where ma Do eStao
lished sort of headquarters for travellers
where they can meet, exchange views anu iuioI""'o"
and be so associated in companionship that comoina
tions to advance ends may be made anu Va'ua
be suegestions be gained from liberal contact with
mapv minds all urged by aspirations and desires
such q headquarters would be made bureau vi Rco'
graphical information and Information concerning al
exploration and travel for the press anu
the public But without waiting for the erection OF
new building is proposed to take such steps toward
the latter object as may be practicable In the early
future The aim Of those who are engaged IN extending
the usefulness Of the Society b to make IL as nearly as
possible the equal in position IN the sclenthc woro
the Royal Geographical Society In London.
The American Society is now in correspondence with
As scientific bodies in various parts OF tne ~orIu' III
enough TO undertake expeditions OF exploration on ts
on account IL has not been sluggish in the use OF It's
influence and active to help on the Work
OF exploration ard the progress OF scientific travel
great deal effort expended for the advantage OF the
Society," without cost to It, by its members aud officers
whose work would the Society many thousands OF
dollars In spite OF the heavy expenses OF the past year,
the incoming OF new members to the Society mas Deeh
profitable enough to enable it to lay aside fund o!
% 200 as the foundation Of permanent fund.- Pfor
Morse has left bequest Of 900 to enable the Society
to award medal each year to the person VINO Is coh
sdered to have accomplished the most during the yea
in the field covered by the Society 1t fs known that
several persons Of means have put down the society
for liberal bequess in their Wills but the present health
OF most of these gentlemen indicates that the enrich
mept of the Society," from this source at least Will De
long delayed.
journal is published every year by the Society
usually about Maywhich contains an account OF all the
work Of the Society for the preceding year aud OF the
features Of the reports which have been sent IN TO IT,
These iournas together with bulletins which are Issued
from time to time in order to keep the members In
formed of what has been made are sent TO all
the members Of the Society and to various learned soc
eties and eminent ge0Rraphers The value OF these pup
lcatous s constantly increasing. aud great improve
ment has been made in the quality Of the maps and
illustrations which they contain. Among the matter
which has been sent to the Society lately are photo
graphs and scientific information from Formosa sent by
Prof ]. b. Steere a report from Lieut. b. H. Runner OF
the United States Engineers concerning his scientific
work carried for some years In Nebraska Colorado
and other Territories and report from W. H. Dali IN
reear to his observations the Aleutian Islands Dr.
J. j. Contes, q member of the Society now In South
America, who has made the difficult ascent OF
the Misti, has written that he intends to
attempt the ascent Of Chimborazo. which was tried 10
vain by Humboldt. Within few days Lieut.. George NJ
Wheeler will give address before the Society on the
results OF his explorations and surveys west OF the lth
meridian and the interesting information gained In
Colorado and New Next month report will be
presented to the Society by the Secretary Alvan g.
southworth on the explorations 10 the West In Utah.
Wyoming Colorado aud elsewhere In which the results
OF the various exploring expeditions will be dgested
and clearly set FORTH and expected that the Society
will have suggestions make In the future in regard to
further explorations in the United States. Mr. South
worth was with Hayden's expedition during the Sum-
mer and also made investigations Into the work OF
the Wheeler and Big Horn expeditions Moreover, he
made during the Summer In the direction
Of providing for proper OF the society az
the Centennial Exhibition In Philadelphia.
few days ago the Society received note from the
State Department in regard to the medal Of progress
and diploma awarded to it at the Vienna Exposition for
the collection of books maps photographs, and exhibit
of work DONE which placed In the Exposition by the
Society," Mr. Francis A. Stout one Of the VcePresdens,
taking charge Of the whole matter. Included IN the
action of the Society during the past year was the send
ing to Iceland Its accredited representative Of Dr.
. nie al hv ala0