The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-29
THE AMERICAN SCIENTISTS.
Resolutions Indorsing the Valuable
Work Done by the Coast Survey.
Address by Capt. COrthell Pointing Out the
Feasibility of Building Ship Railway
Across the American lSthmus.

made several changes in the constitution of the
association, the only important one being the
merging of Section G-that on histology and
nicroscopy-with the section on biology, such
tction having been recommended by the section
itself.
Eleven new members were elected. Prof ;. +.
Langley, of Allegheny, offered resolutions rec
oepizng the valuable work done by the United
States Coast Survey. and deprecating the Judg-
ment of such work by other than scientific men.
A general discussion followed, a number Of
prominent members participating. At first some
misunderstanding of the question aroused
some opposition to the motion, but all the speak
err united in prasing the accurate and valuable
work already done by the government the
port that the work was Of no value being most
enphatically denied. The vote on the resolu-
tons was unanimous in the affirmative.
After the general session the sections met for
Bhort meetings, the work being shortened by the
length of the discussion in the large meeting.
In the afternoon the sessions were continued,
the postponed papers of the morning being then
gwen.
TAe section on mathematics and astronomy
considered papers on the planets, the sun, ana
astronomical instruments and calculations.
The physicists heard and discussed several
PAGERS, among which were three by Prof. A. h.
pobear, of Tufts College, who is an inventor of
telephones In which he considered some queS-
ions of electricity.
Like Ill the other sections that on chemistry
vas delayed a great deal by the discussion in the
eneral meeting, this morning, and the members
we're unable to reach those parts of the pro
:ramme which are of general interest, the dis
ussion on students initiatOry course in the
laboratory not being brought up.
The mechanical science meeting this afternoon
WIS opened with long discussion of the last
PAGER of the morning That by Frank G. Wagner,
on Electric Light Tests" Prof. NJ Z, Cooley
READ paper on a new smoke burning device.
which is to consume all gases by the admission
of fne jets of steam to incandescent coal Prof.
Rob'rt Thurston, of Cornell read an important
papG on Cylinder Condensation in Steam En-
gnes'
Williams. descriptive of the upper devonian
rocks. President Edward Orion, of Columbus,
o., read paper describing the oil and
gas fields of northwestern Ohio. Of the
oil there is but small product, but gas is found
IN large quantities. At Findlay there are six
wells, with yield of between 5000. 900 and
1900, 600 feet per day. At Bowling Green there
are three more, and one at Fremont, making the
total daily product about 4, coo 900 cubic feet
He also touched on the source of the product its
horizon being some distance below the fields of
Eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. The
last paper in this section was the loess and
drift clays." by William McAdams, of Alton, Ill.
Among the biological papers were Parasites
of the Hessian Fly" by Prov. c. V. Riley and
paper by Prov Il. J. Burrl on THE Mechanical
Injury to Trees by Cold" IN the latter of
which the freezing of water and it's composition
with other matters is given as the explanation
of splits and similar injuries
Section III continued its meteorological dis
EMISSIONS by completing the consideration of
claws and Terms of Relationship Of the Omahas."
Dakota Indian mounds and some other topics
concerning American aboriginal customs oc-
cupied the rest Of the day.
The afternoon meeting Of the economic scien-
fists ogened with a paper by Governor John W
Hoyt on 1.-THE need of systematic reorganiza-
ton OF the executive departments OF the govern
ment in the interest of science and public econ
omy." He advocates sweeping changes in the
present executive branch of the government
suggesting new departments and radical changes
IN those now existing, all being with view to q
cheaper administration of the government.
Between the afternoon sessions and the lecture
of the evening the local committee entertained
the association with a lawn party on the college
campus.
Tomorrow there will be no sessions of the
different sections the members being the guests
of the city of Detroit for excursion to Lake
St Clair.
In the evening. at o'clock, the scientists,
their friends and the citizens of Ann Arbor,
heard an address by Captain E. l.. Corthell, of
New York. His lecture was illustrated by
construction and method of working the pro-
posed railway. Following is an abstract of the
lecture:
The plishments of science increase its REQUIRE
ments The most serious obstacles have been over
all except this that lies in the center of the
world-a narrow neck of land uniting two countries
apd allowing passage. All interests free inter
change of commerce are seriously hampered by this
interoceanic problem. The great expense of tran
shipment includes the extensive use of ordinary rail
roads. Ceroalsof the Pacific and other products
agricultural and manufactured traverse long and
pensve routes to markets. Our manufacturers who
turn out five billion dollars worth annually-ex
porting only 2 per cent;-,cannot participate in
Pacific countres The Amer tFsa9 istb nar
has been considered for four centuries 1t has been
examined, surveyed. plans made and projected, but
nothing resulted There are three routes: Panama
Nicaragua aud Tehuantepec. Assuming the practca
bty of the last, its advantages will be acknowledged
It's commercial advantages enhanced by the fact
that it is near the axla line of productions passing
through Hong Kong, San Francisco New York and
Liverpool and its nautical conditions are much more
favorable. The true scientific method is that which
transfers ships from ocean to most promptly
and economically. This method is ship railway Its
details embrace the lifting dock, with a system of
ly distribute the weight of vessels and regulate the
system of carriage; supports to be placed
under vessels hulls; the road-bed to
length oe the railway; the superstructure be long
steel ties which will be laid heavy steel rails weigh
ing about hundred pounds per lnea yard: powerful
locomotives, weighing one hundred and two net tons
with a capacity of 80 900 gross tons on the level
will haul ships across the sthmus. Three of these
will haul a maximum load of $3.50 tons at fifteen
miles hour grades up to twenty feet to the mile.
Abrupt changes in direction of the road, made
sary by following the valleys are accomplished by
means of floating turntables. Harbors at both ends
are commodious and excellent. Large numbers OF
perts who have examined the plan testify to its prac
ticability and economy. The time has
passed for proving the feasibility of the
method Its superior economy in construction
and operation is the next subject to be considered
Ordinary canals and railroads have been tried the
latter being superior i'll economy and dispatch In the
ship canals and ship railroads the difference in favor
of the latter is greater. Historical examination of
the actual cost of moving freight by and railroad
shows that the latter is far in advance Of the former
in economy and in the question of time there is still
greater difference. Instead of the average load of
fifteen tons, or thirty for the maximum moving on
two rails put 500 tons. this moving on six rails
and wi n great concentrated motive powers freight
will be hauled FIR two-tenths of a ran
per ton. The difference in speed would be