New-York tribune., 1874-04-27

tion, needing for It's solution many additional ooser
vstions.
Dr. Besses read from the report of the Polaris OK
animation the results of the scientific work OF the
expedtion. This was published some months ago in
THE TRIBUNE.
Prof. Nowberry made the following remarks in
respect 70 the expedition in which Dr. Bessels had
borne 80 prominent part:
Some OF us will remember how. a few years ago. the
matter OF the organization OF the Poas party came be-
fore u.s. and dny dcvoved upon us OF prescribing
formula observations Instructions for observing IN
some directions OF science delegated to tho Acad
envy by the Governments Part OF that duty fell to my
charge and n became my duty 10 write out some views
which I wished 10 submit to Dr Besseis whsn
ha left us That paper Transmitted TO
him inst about the time Of tho departure OF the exped
ton and members OF the Academy VIII remember wiz
what sympathy and concern we sa" ,noss E Nrth 70
execute this scientific cOmmiss0n; ana n0Inlng ~ oi9
proper than that should recognize the Importance o
me tsoutions that have made to sciences that
we should welcome back th0so VINO nave Hohe uPol ~
n dangerous mission ana that we should express our
regret that the chic. the party has fallen Vctih u
anal limit myself simply 10 the expression OF the
degree of satisfaction teel as to the accuracy OF the
statement Dr. Bcssels has made here anu mas mae
10 me personally In regard 10 the evidences that are
fnrnisbed there ponting msp Of the great changes
OF level It may be matter OF little time anu heeu
ING great extent OF observation to connect those with
the changes we have found in lower ATTITUDES and In
that way work plans that can give the pDysioa
ibrough that remarkabe period the glacial aud 70 con-
meet that with miocene before, when the tempeia
THIS change Of elevation TO which he has referred
have received notice of with great interest. You wiz
remember that Dr. Bessels mentioned that III tle cs Vi
Hals Land found, 800 fee ABOVE the pres
level, mousks such as are y,ng III the sea az to
Champlain and have myself collected them there,
evidently indicating the effect OF the same general ae-
uression We these rocks with many recognizable
Smells upon the shores Of ocean perhaps tna mas pre-
vailed the far north presenting an anclen & o3ass
line that at times has been washed Dy tne sea "ators
aud at other times elevated by tne erosion tna hls
cut up that great system OF aords Ihe mater 1l %
the transportation OF the drlit from soutn W
north is OF great Importance, ana Gun DO
certainly known IL we could G1d Ia IarsSe sSe
gradual elevation of temperature ana dinlnutoh ot
the magnitude OF gdcGfs tgrs gG Mt them the mate
rial by whch 1t passed hls coast anu very @ pr1@ory @
had Otherroue than such as nave reerreu To-
cannot express my Own Immediate degree Oh satis
faction In welcoming backiDr Besses VINO ds 50 idlth
fully executed the commission We committed 10 mm'
Dr. Bessels replied: | should like to make another re-
mark on the raising of the land. thought might ma
some clue In collecting some specimens Of the stems oi
old willows that grew that land, and on examining
those different willow stems found that there was not
single one Of them older than l96 years That Is nd-
Gated by the number ot ilngs, Slti1uSid - ~ oo % Iva
that such rise 1000 or 1900 feet could nave oeen PrV
Dr. Guyot asked VIII Dr, Besses please tell us what
the diameter OF that tree IS wch Is ls6 years oldi
DR.. Bcsscs-These willow stems were a litele larger
pr. Guyo-Might 7 ask DR.. Besses how he would
PLAIN ia the transportation 10 the North the coming OF
lie powders from Laorador. IL seems tbaI tue sea
ought 10 have come ds low down as Labrador.
Tue Cbairmln prof. Henry)-Whero would oe the
point separation between Gfeeniand ana the cohtl-
Dr. Bessels-The point Of separation would probably
he in the vicinity OF NewfOundllni, because In tracing
such line following the coast of Greenianu wOul lH9t
exactly give us tne shape OF me continent requLei.
You will remember tut Burckneatef was rue hret 10
point ont that such triangle vita the points to the
south was the shape Of the coninent Dr. Besscls mere
drew iDiag nary triangle on the DiachDOafu. ine
apex OF tine triangle s pointing toward the sout, ana III
tracing hpe rO tue south cape OF Greenland 70 mo
eastern cape OF Newfoundland that would just gave tue
angular shape required by the theory.
Dr. GuyOt-rnat IL true; but all that space IRON
Smiths ought TO be open, in order to give the
uIift from Labrador.
Dr. BesseIs-Most likely but that s what wanted to
find out though We dd not nnd sOundihgs greater man
those Ords, aud We fOnud the lesser iepJhs
toward the north the greater to" ard the soutl;
Dr. GuyotAnd the separation would DC sun IN eKist-
ence the northern part
d.. Bes-es-We ind the same motion OF the earth Is
existing st IN Australia Ile Htte continent Alsl.a
la ia tlltng just nkc boat under heavy pressure oi
DR. Guyot-What I want to know is where was the
connection between Groeland and the continent That
Is the point and think that could not DO anywhere
Dr. Bessels--Wel,I think the last connection must
have been somewhere in the latitude OF Iabrador
Dr. GuyOt-Anyhow this transportation OF drt north
ward Is very interesting All or part OF Bhering .
strait HoaI woa 1i erfapt "a the currents from tue Pa
cfc change the whole circulation from the Pacific
Prof. Nowborry-we think the circulation of the sea
atmospheric sdturaton from existing currents is not
enough t. form glaciers.
DR. Besses-it is so very small that the region under
consideration could not have been SO affected.
The Chairman-WOuld not the abnormal appearance
OF the drift explained by simply supp0sDg that the
sea OF The North c0inci1en wtl the pole Of the
earth
Dr.. GuyOt-Certainly.
Prof Newbery-I venture 10 refer TO the fact ad-
mtted that have OF tie lower Silurian rock
stretching through to the utmost point north,
and the upper siuran also. The elevation OF these series
of later deposits has lower this way you know.
In the mouth Of the ST. Lawrence have these same
deposits 500 deep the sea, and down about New
York on the Hudson, geo The depression seems
to he greater towaru tue north.
The Chairman then announced that the photo
grapher of the Smithsonian Institution desired to
take photograph Of the audience. Thereupon
everybody turned about and faced toward the oppo-
site end of the ball. Grave professors their fingers
through their hair and struck an attitude. A
solemn rgidity crept the spell-bound group, at
last to be interrupted by sigh Of relief as the black
cloth was finally replaced on the camera.
The next address an account of the new
instrument at the Observatory.
THE GREAT TELESCOPE AT WASHINGTON.
BY PROF. SIMON NEwCoMB.
The initiatOry movement in the construction
OF the great telescope early In July, 1870 when
Congress authorized forIt appropriation OF $4,000