New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-19
Do1NGS OF THE SCIENTISTS.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY CHOOSES OFF,
GERS FOR THE YEAR.
IMPORTANT PAPERS READ AT TEE PUBLIC SEES
sIoN-THE LIMIT OF MEMBERSHIP REACHED.

IMPORTANT PAPERS READ AT TEE PUBLIC sEs-
sIoN-THE LIMIT OF MEMBERSHIP REACHED.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
washington, April 1s.-Thls was the second busy
day for the National Academy OF Sciences During the
brief business session In tho morning. Professor Asaph
Hall was reelected secretary and council was elected
as follows; Re-eected-Professor George j. Brush the
mineralogis Of New-Haven Professor b. A. Could the
astronomer, OF Cambridge Professor Ira Remsen the
chemist Of Johns Hopkins University. and General
NJ. G. Megs. Of Washington The newly elected men,
bers of the council were Professor Simon Newcomb of
Washington, and General Francis A. Walker of the
Massachusetts, Institute of Technology
During the public session SIX important papers were
read The first was on "1he Mass Of Saturn by
Asaph S. Hall, it,. guest Of the Academy. Mr. Hall
pointed cut that by reason OF the exceptional high
epcity Of the planet, and by reason Of the rings by
which she is surrounded, the determination Of the mass
Of Saturn is exceedingly difficult, and the results by
various Observers are diverse He has himself ap-
preached the problem from new point of Wow, and
made determination Of the Of the planet which,
although not final, appears to be closer approxima
ton to the truth than any Of tho earlier estimates.
Professor Remsen presented three papers, tho first
on The Nature and Composition Of Double Haldes,'
the second on The Rate of Reduction of NtreCom-
pounds and the third on "The Connection Between
Taste and Chemical Composition The first two
laboratory methods, in which important improvements
have recently been made. The third paper related to
one OF the most important subjects within the domain
OF modern chemistry, the development Of certain food
sources from inorganic substances. recent sub
stute for sugar not yet in extended use but just find
ing its way into the markets, Is bensoc sulphnide,
a purely inorganic compound whose sweetness is 300
times that Of sugar. Professor Remsen has recently
investigated certain other closely related compounds,
and found curious relations between their composition
and their effects upon tho organs Of tssts.
Ono Of the most interesting papers Of the session was
by Professor T. c. Mendenhal upon recent researches
In atmospheric electricity. Professor Mendenhau
points out that not only casual observer but
meteorologists have detected relation between the
electric potential Of the atmosphere and precipitation
as exhibited most strhngiy in thunderstorns, but In
less striking manner in nearly all classes Of precip-
ton in the form OF rain. Now meteoroloSists have
for some years sought 10 determine means OF weather
prediction based upon the electrical condition OF the
atmosphere AMI long series OF observations was made
by United States signal Service, BY different state
weather bureaus and amateur meororoogists in various
parts OF the country. The results Of these obser-
vations have lust boon dgesed by Professor Menden-
hall aud he finds, contrary to his expectations. and TO
the surprise Of meteoroogsts and laymen ahKe' mat
the variations in electric potentially are apparently
result rather than cause OF precipitation ana that
storm prediction based upon the electric condition Oh
tho atmosphere B anu perhaps o'0l wiz ~ ~
practicable
The last paper Of the day was by Professor A. a.
Nicholson, on Measurement by Light Waves" inc
speaker pointed out that light and heat arc nothing
moro than molecular vibrations, the amplitude ana
velocity OF which arc constant under
certain easily determined conditions, and are
susceptible OF measurement: and no pro-
poses to utilize the light wave as unit OF meas
urcment, claiming that measurement TO the almost
Inconcovabe high standard OF accuracy OF one twenty
millionth Of an inch IS possible by this means-the
most refined measurements by other methods have
probable orror Of fully tenthousandth OF an inch
Tho day ended with an executive session, during
which hvo members were elected, raising the memoer-
shin TO- the constitutional limit Of mem6kShip-loO
The newly made AcSdemleia9s included Two astron0,
mes Professor Lewis Boss OF the Dudley observatory
Al Albany A. Y, and Professor Charles s. Hastings.
OF tho sheHich Scientific school At Yale UNIVERSITY
one paeontologis Dr. Charles A. White, OF The nted
states Geological Survey; one botanlst, Professor
Bereno Watson. OF Harvard, and oheniHt' ProiesSor
Arthur Mchels OF Tufts College.
A reception TO the members OF the ACADEMY was
pfycn this evening az the smithsonian Institution By
Professor Langley, which largely attended, many
uronInent officials Of the Government and resident
scientists being present with their families