The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-30
The Afternoon Session.

In the afternoon fishes in the Wabash and
some of it's tributaries were described by o. p.
jenkins, and DR.. Jordan discussed the relatl on
of latitude to the number of vertebrg in fishes.
Ii. L. Osborn read a paper pertaining to concnoi-
ogy on "Osphadium il Crepidula.' and then fol-
lowed a long list of subjects in entomology called
by title. F. NJ. Webster read the only paper OF
this list and that related to two species of beetles
and their burrowing habits, the lixus macer and
lixus concavus. Sometimes one of these species
is found in one place and not in another. al
though the second species may be there. But
both have a singulsrly keen sense of wealth
err indications, and are able to protect themselves
ana their burrows in limbs and stalks at the ap-
proach of bad weather, So far the themes were
treated of in a purely scientific form, but the in
PRODUCTION of the titles under geolo-
gy afforded Prof. j. L. Campbell,
Of the ~geodetic survey in Indiana,
An opportunity to talk Interestingly and popu-
larry about that work. He said the surveys
were being made on a series of triangles on the
thirty-ninth degree of latitude, which crossed at
the gulf OF Mexico another series extending
from the northern extremity of Lake Michigan
through Indiana and the South. This is done in
order to give accuracy to lines which have here
tofore been SO imperfect that surveys 10 Indiana
are never accepted as absolutely correct Hence
there is in every deed the saving clause of SO
many acres. more or less. Inc government
reconnoisances can be carried on only in the
spring and fall when the weather is clear. He
had the honor OF beginning the work in Indiana
a few years ago from the spire of the Indianap-
oils courthouse, and from that the recon
noisances extend north to South Bend, and south
to Jetfersonville. Triangulation was also begun
in the south part of the State on a base line ex.
tending through Louisville. The WORK north
wards in this State has reached the summit OF
the knobs in Washington and Scott counties,
md from thia noint the aurvav will ha continual
to q point north of Brownsto wn. The
transcontinenta corps going from east
to west is at a point in Mar
tin county, so next season the
two parties will come together. Prof. j c.
Branner, Of the State University, agreed with
Professor Campbell as to the importance of the
WORK in its bearings on accurate map-makiug.
He said there was not O map of Indiana, except
that of the geoGetic survey, that was trust
worthy. The work must be necessarily slow,
but when it is completed we can have accurate
levels and triangulations for all future surveys.
Prof. 7. G. Mendenhall, of the Rose Polytechnic
Institute, spoke of the value the results of this
survey will be to more accurate barometrlc read
ings. Now no certainty can be attached to
barometric readings, unless they are compared
with the sea-level depressions. An elevation of
a very few feet will make a great difference.
The survey will obliterate errors in this regard
that have been troublesome TO con-
illusions at Cincinnati, Louisville and Indian
apo,is.
Professor Mendenhall then addressed the
academy on the advancement the science of
seismology had made within the past
ten or fifteen years, 1t has gone
ahead with n rapidity not known to
other sciences. Earthquakes were first thought
to belong solely to geology, but it soon appeared
that physics and astronamy also had an interest
in the training of the young seismology.
Among the earliest phenomena that at
tracted the attention OF man were earthquakes,
and yet knowledge of them has been acquired in
late years 30 rapidly that Mallets work. the first
devoted to seismology, although comparatively
young, is now useless, but his wonderful cata-
logue of earthquakes is invaluable. The Pro
fessor attributed this advancement to the open
ing of new areas for the study Of the phenom-
ena. Parts of the globe frequented by earth
quakes are not inhabited by Anglo-Saxons nor
other races who study the sciences. But east
ern countries, where earthquakes come so often
that there are doubts if those parts of the earth
are ever at rest have become archaeological labora-
tories. Japan is continually trembling and there,
as one of the results of her late-day c~iviliza-
ton, seismology has become a study of
the native scientists The university
of that empire has it's department. for the young
science and n professor of earthquakes at its
head. Another cause for this advancement has
been the general improvement in physical pro-
cesses, and the third an improvement in ap-
paratus. Mallets use of cylindrical pillars gives
no accurate results for detecting the direction or
force of the earth's vibrations. Nor does the
pendulum. but that instrument known as the
horizontal pendulum is of great assistance. The
idea of investigation must lie fxed as to space,
not as TO tie earth. By the selsmograph,