New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-21
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

RESULTS OF RECENT RESEARCH.
THE FORTUNATE FIVE NEW MEMBERs-VIBRArioSs
FROM HE'LL GATE LAST SUMMERS HEATED
TERM.
lrpoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19.-NlOst of the working
hours OF yesterday spent 10y the Academy in ecche
five new members. Only five arc permitted annually to
ioin the band of American Immortals. believe tue
calculation is that death disagreement should remove
almost as many but just at present "fcw die and
none resign" There II candidates for the coveted
honor Dividing these To their pursuits between the
mathematical and the non-mathenatica sciences-' e.
putting those who apply themselves to physics nathc-
MATES chemistry aud the like in group, and those
who are special in biology geology and the like in an
other-I Judge that there nearly twice as many OF
the first sort OF the second But nevertheless the non
mathematical folks have been more than equally favored
by the ballot which has selected three OF them IN the ye
The fortunstes are Profs. Joel Asaph Allen of Cam-
bridge, George r. Barker and William VI. Gabb Of Phlt-
dephia Edward 8 nurse of Salem aud Cen John New
ton Of the United States Army Prof Allen Is zooo-
gis who has won distinction by his studies Of the ami
NAL, of the far West; nc is Of especially high authority
on birds, and las produced a standard work on the
Progress OF OrnithOOgy During the Last Century one
OF his most essays deals with the North American
bison and informed, cXhausts the SUBJECT whichS
a good thing TO do before the rife has exhausted tie
bison Prof George T. Barker before the University Of
PENNSYLVANIA tempted him, occupied the Chair Of chem.
try AZ Yale College Here he is the Professor Of PySi
cal Sciences Under his skml management the Uni
yersy OF Pennsy has already become possessed "i
one Of the best not the best appointed or physca
Laboratories in the United States There seems 10 be no
antiouatcd or useless rubbish in it, tact that vii at
once besprak its value TO those who are familiar
with COLLEGE collections Of apparatus. / doubt
whether lie has a superior in his branthc OF science
for force and lucidity in explaining himself, or TO-
auick-wttcdness in debate. Prof G@bb IA Coi codisej
fluent writer though believe he makes no PrctehsohS
70 oratory Paaontology has absorbed most OF hs at
teuton though he has recently written monograph on
the ethnology OF Indians. He was the pa'eonto-
ogist OF the California survey in 1854, when
also included parts OF Oregon ana ldaho; hs
geological survey OF SantO Domldgo-leo9 10
ls72-is almost the only work on the subject he mas
similar study OF Costa Rica under way Prof More has
a widespread popular reputation due to his ability az
public and h status as an ultra-Dar"nan. lie
has made important discoveries IN the anatomy Of BIRDS
and respecting certain Of the lower Invertebrates HIS
wonderful flow OF animal spirits makes Inn what are
mus Ward calls ligtheaGted cuss,' hut suppose he
will attempt gravity since heis ranked with the sascs
Gen John Newton is, to say tie least, well known ~
NcwYorkcrs in particular and to all Europe and America
in general He furnishes the instance record Of
man WHO has won Worldwide fame by not making q
great noise III the world when he had the opportunity
Several members Of tie Academy came here after the
opening Prof W A. Norton who occupies The chair Of
engineering AT 1dc Nultbt5 was "'''s ~ '''' '''
making his Centennial visit. Among the additional
familiar faces are those Of Prof. Frman Rogers, o. n
Rood A. GuyOt f. LOOMS, r. t. Rogers, ana Cen o. h
Warren heard that Con. Mcgs present at to-day
meeting; Prof W. B. Rogers certainly was; ana also
Prof b. Sillunan As the numbers OF the Rogers FANNY
in Science make the little confusing may men
ton that W. b. desgnates the venerable and eloquent
Presidential its last meeting OF the American Associa
ton for the Advancement OF Science; and that H. h.
refers to his brother, a chemist Of distinction
Gen H. l.. Abbott organized an elaborate system TO
obtain facts respecting the vibrations caused hy the i
Gate explosions synopsis Of the results is given below
Prof Elias LOomis a. usual at these meetings gave
some detail. concerning the weather
VIBRATIONS FROM HELL GATE
In previous operations with dynamite there were
instances that Gen Abbott had knowledge OF where fish
iumped out of the water when the vibrations reached
| them at a distance Of mile from the explosions. No
sucb wonders were reported from the vicinity Of Hell
Gate. The method adopted by ecu Abbott to observe
the vibrations was that when Mailct has recommended
The instrument used is called scismossapn; 1t
| has been employed similarly for earthquake olscrya-
lions and believe by Prot Palmer for detecting tc
auproach of an eruptiye period Of Mount Vcsuyus. II
principally consists OF basin OF heiSuy, tIing Wn9t
surface vibrations reach II observed ny ices
copes with delicate means OF i9odIuTeinenI - esy Is
II disturbed that the football OF morse 3Oo leet away
at once Indicated , ~,
scnsitiyencss aud manifyuc powers were employed IN
mi. research They are de-gnatci as and Il, the latter
having the better capacity. ItcsIDuh NPrillI'l't7
shaved that although Of dynamite wien c&-
plodcd gave vibrations that the 1nsli inent bafeN IN
dicated at "A distance OF geo feet, the Instrument
showed them when only one ounce was exploded a the
/ same distance When 200 pounds Of dynamite were
used the instruments marked the fact al about fepeC
tiyeIy three and five miles distance. number OF e&-
perimcnts led to the calculation that the explosion on
Iactt's Reef where $3.50 charges were hrcd smita-
ne0usy ought to be indicated al 80 miles distance for
and 81 miles for but Gen. Abbott "as very anxious
10 obtain something than negative or doubtful re-
suits and hence selected distances not much over ana
10 niles An observation attempted AT West Point,
ilgs
as A. and no results obtained. The stations used
by Gen Abbott all on Long Island; their distances
from the reef very accurately asccrilned ana
| given in round numbers in the table below:
Ar Velocity Of