New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-17
RESEARCHES OF THE LAST YEAR.

| RESEARCHES OF THE LAST YEAR.
Professor Alexander Agassz irst occupied tie at
tent,on of the session with report on the dredging
cruise of the United States steamer Blake, Com
mander Bartlett III the summer Of 1850. The
cruise he SAID was undertaken with the otJect OF
determining the exact relation Of the fauna OF the
| Atlantic Ocean TO that met with in the
Gulf of Mexico and in the Caribbean Sea. In the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans deep sea soundngs
have generally been made to depth of 1000
fathoms in the Gulf of Mexico to a depth of $50
| fathoms. Work was begun June last, sonth OF
Cape Hatteras, on line parallel TO the coast, and
at an average distance of abont 100 miles from It,
Instead of finding gently slipping sca-bed, as has
heretofore been supposed to exist in these ATTITUDES
the drrdgers discovered what proved TO be contn-
uation OF the plateau of which the northern portion
is known TO extend far Cape ST. George, and OF
which the southeasterly limit Is supposed
TO rest on the Bahama Banks. The western
ledge on this plateau was examined during
last summers cruise and proved very interesting
from geological point of view. The eastern slope
has not been traced AS yet. Its exact limits are
matter of onjacturc, but are 20 be determined in
next years cruise The sides of this plateau are
steep Three ships lengths from a point where
depth of 100 athoms lad been reached, the sounding
apparatus did not strike bottom until 400 fathoms
of the line had been paid out. The most animal
life is found on the edge of the plateau. The CHAR
acter of the animals il. on the whole the same ~
that OF the species onud in the Gulf of Mexico and
the Caribbean Sea. The edges are composed of rich
deposits of alluv1a and mud, washed from tue top
Of the plateau by the action of the Gull Stream.
the course If which extends over the entire length
Of this Atlantic plateau. The deposits of numerous
rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean serve to eu-
rich the western slope. These conditions ali IA
yorable 10 the preservation OF animal life on the
edges Of this submarine highland. while on lis top
no animal life is TO he met with,
a certain species of coral formation excepted Alto
together the success obtain "a by this expedition
was great. he sci Of officers has served for
three consecutive seasons. The same amount Of
work which. in the course OF the first years
cruise, required three months time, during
the past season has been accomplished IN
seven weeks Work was continued day and
night The rapidIty with which the soundings
were made enabled eight dredges. each OF them TO
the dep of 500 fathoms, TO be made every twenty
four hours. Formerly, one deep-sea sounding was
considered a good days work.
In conclusion Professor Aga,siz stated that a
new SET OF officers was likely 10 be appointed oy the
Government for next years cruise. This he
regretted as tho efficiency OF the service
was likely 10 be impaired by substituting in
experienced men for those whose experience had |
LARGELY contributed TO the success OF last summers
STRUCTURE or CERTAIN MINrRAL VEINS.
Professor Sillimln followed Professor Agassiz |
with a short paper on The intimate structure Of
certain mineral veins" The theory had been adj |
vanced some time ago, he sad, chat IN some min
erals there are cavities in ch there obviously
two fluids The speaker had recently had the good |
fortune 10 verify the trath of tie suggestion IN the
veins OF stone found in Arizona. This was n |
20 Cd, u
lied gold. THIS black rock formed n Gaping two
or three feet in depth for a crystalline amorphous
Quar.Z in which stains Of copper. iron and |
free god IN q uucly divided condition. In tins rock,
specimens %. Vlich were shown, were distinctly
Yisinic TWO uuds, one OF Which existed As
an inner bubble and which displayed almost
cons ans activity If III tion. TINS second
lIqu was iquchcu car OH" acid. Small PARTICLES
"a the stone were placed upOu q slide Tor cxamlua-
ton. When warmed, the carDonc acn expanded
and lid nos show, bui when permitted 10 become |
G. id Il was distinctly visible. Professor Siiiiman
also stated that gold lad been tOuud ~ intimate re-
IatOns with touGA.alnc, aui that quar.z with gold
found ~ Lower California, near ne Nevada line,
was entirely destitute oi sulphuTets, showing that
tie intervention ui IRON salts as 0lvet agent was
MOI nee s-ary IN the formation Of Gle deposits Of
gold Professor J. Sorry Hunt. oil Montreal.
agreed with the latter conclusion.
Prof ssur James Hall pr seuted 70 the meeting
hi, researches in determining the relations oil the
Onconta aud Moutto-c sandstone with the SAND.
stone of tie Catskil Mountains. H. stated that !
since 1863 re had been engaged 10 determining the
a. 81 Iutt utt OF INC NdtFhtiI MOUNTAINS |
and ol the southern counties o. NeT-ioIk. He had
arrived a. The conclusion thai correct explanation
regarding TING formation OF the rock lying between
the gay sandstone, conglOmefates Catskl red rock
ami Ieu sandstone UIi one side, and the Hamilton
group and limestone on the other, had not been
gwen
Ia tins stratum fresh water Shells species Of
anadrOnitrs, red aud gray, with immense numbers
Of fagamentarT land plants were 10 bc mct with. |
THIS geological formation was above the level O the
jptH Sc"' 1890. .,,-,.,,..co,- ,,-r,to,r ,
At the opening Of the afternoon session Professor
5bbs explained "a general method III analys +
discovered by himself and brought to n certain de-
gre. OF perfection by experiments. Tie former y
recess OF deter mining netais by eectrolysls he
aid had been found operative with only or two e
metals, such as cadmium and mefcnIy. The new !
method was simply to place the metal in soln- u
ION in a bcaker, add pure mercury and connect
he mercury Win an electric battery. b. the cleo
ne action the metal was thrown down upon the
lercmy. II was necessary only to weigh the mer-
ury and tie beaker beforehand, and then
Ter the process 10 determine the metal by !
paln weighing the vessel and the mercury. /
bis method, he salu. WAS applicable
n,Iy an arsenic ANA autlnouy. He did moi despair y
rcparai ing potassium and sodlum by he process G
though hs experiments WIN these ulct"hs had not v
eeu completely iutG .ssluL N
Professor Hunt taid tis process came with the =
eautv ana iOr-o II "a rcyeat on; its simplicity n
10. Every chemist would await fur ! II
her developments with great interest. lie also 5
skeI what battery power WAS used. Professor q
;ibis SAID the power al the battery was matcrlal
xcrpt ~ point OF time. The stronger the power | 4
he shorter tie time required tor the process.
FLEClEIC LlGHTs
Professor Mortons first paper treated OF some b
eeeut ex perimcnts made by him IN determining the
lectro-rnotivc force OF tho Brush dynam0-eectric |
Machine Various instruments for the accurate
measurement Of electric currents Of great strength
sere first described. and then the measurements of