Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-23
Meerlns Of ,he nls,orlcal socIety.


The Historical Society OF Southern
California met yesteaday evening at the
City Court Room in Nadeau Block, fres-
ident Warner presiding.
Additions were made to the incipiont
library Of the Society By Judge Morgan
and Gen. Mansfield, for which these gen
tlcmon received the thanks of the Soci-
ety. Wo trust that citizens In general
will adopt the laudable custom OF max
ing similar presents to an institution
which will preserve them for the benefit
OF postenty.
In accordance with q request Of the
Society made at previous meeting Mr..
Q. N. Wilson presented for preservation
In the archives manuscript con
tanning the legal history OF church
lot, subject which has hitherto been
matter of discussion by the Society.
Facts thus put in permanent condition
BY persons who knew of them at the
fine of their occurrence will be of great
interest 10 future generations.
Professor Ira More exhibited piece
Of the famous Indian pipe stone from the
quarry in Southwestern Minnesota, the
only place in tho world where this stone
Is known to exist. The speaker de
scribed the locality as he saw IL fifteen
years ago, and gave learned and inter
esting account OF the mode OF quarrying
the stone and preparing the pipes. A
fact not generally known is that these
pipes, made OF stone found only In
limited quantities and at ono place,
were in use among the Indians of the
Atlantic seaboard and even among those
Of Northern Mexico.
Mr.. J. b. Niles exhibited stono from
near Osborn, Ohio, which is supposed
to have been smoothed by glacial action.
Tho stone Ia found in large quantities
in that locality, and is used for paving
purposes. Whether tho genial Council
man proposes TO introduce this stone for
paving purposes in Los Angeles he did
not state. Many citizens viii wish that
dame nature had placed quarry OF this
kind at our door
Col. Griffin exhibited n photograph Of
singular stone in the State of Antio.
quia, United States of Columbia. 1t is
known as oLa Carcha'-the she'll and
is thrust up on end near the summit Of q
hill in spur Of the central Cordilera Of
the Andes, and at nh elevation OF some
two thousand feet above tho sea level.
Tho stone, weighing many tons, and re.
semblins huge scallop shell. is of
sienito, but the grooves are as sharply
cut MS though done by human agency.
1t is supposed that these grooves were
made by the action of water, during the
lapse OF many centuries, when the stone
probably lay in recumbent position,
after which it was thrust up on end by
some great convulsion Of nature, proba.
bly, an earthquake. Similar stones are
not infrequent in that region, and some
OF them were utilized by Col. Griffin in
the construction OF bridges, abutments
and the like.
Prof. Baker spoke on the subject OF
measuring rainfall, contending that the
recent invention of rain.gauge swung
in gimbals, after the manner of com
pass, will invariably measure in excess
Of the truth. This the speaker demon
strated mathcmatically.
We regret that lack of space pre-.
vents our giving at length the very in.
tercsting remarks of Professors Shaw
and Baker. We trust also that the His
torical Society will see fit to allow n
shorthand reporter to be present at their
meetings in order that such matters of
general interest may not be lost to the
public.
The members Of the Society appear to
.stake great deal OF interest in historical
and scientific questions, and it is pleas.
ing to note that we have among us gem
tlemen OF scientific attainments who are
an honor to the community.