Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-15


The National Academy of Sciences. which be-
gins Its annual meeting in this city tomorrow.
comprises in its membership men who have
gained eminence i'll scientific work. An cleo
ton to this body is considered by American
scientists the highest recognition they can gain
for their work. The present meeting is of
more than usual Importance as three of the
most important offices are b. be filled The
six-year terms, for which the president Prof
o. c. Marsh the yice-president. Prof. Simon
Newcomb. and the home secretary, Prof. Asaph
Hall, were elected. expire at this meet
ing. and their successors are to be
chosen. In addition many important scientific
papers are announced When the National
Academy of Sciences incorporated by act
OF Congress approved March 3. 1863 the ordi-
nary membership was limited to 80. In 1882
this limitation as to the number of ordinary
members was removed and at present there are
90 such members The academy was const-
tuted sort of advisory board or scientific
cabinet of the government. The act of incor-
pOratlon declared that 1.-THE academy shall,
whenever called upon BY any department of
the government. investigate. examine. expert
ment. and report upon any subject
OF science art. the actual ex-
pense OF such investigations. examinations
experiments and reports TO he paid from APP
pose Under this provision committees of the
academy have organized and supervised much
of the scientific work of the government OF
the fifty original members naTaed in the act of
incorporation all have died except thirteen.
who still remain as members These are F. A.
Z. Barnard. W. II. G.. Bartlett. John H. c. Col
fin. James ID. Dana. Wolcott Gibbs. benjamin
A. Gould James Hail. Julius T.. Hilgard J.
Peter Lesley. j. ;. Newberry, II. A. Newton
Falrman Rogers and Lewis NJ. Rutherford.
har Int lra I.,, Al
dar Agassiz. Messrs. F. Longstreth and Theo.
Lyman. The list of foreign associates COM
prlses twenty-five names of men distinguished
as scientists. Below will be found brief sketches
of the ninety-siX active members.
MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY.
Prot. Cleveland Able, of this city, who be-
came member of the academy i'll 1863 is well
known as the meteorological of the weather bu-
reau and a. n mathematician and astronomer
He organized there, under the patronage of the
Cincinnati chamber of commerce. weather
bureau, whose work attracted wide attention
and led to the establishment of the govern
ments weather bureau and to his appointment
as meteorOlOgist.
Brevet Brig Gen. Henry l.. Abbot, elected
member in 1872. is distinguished engineer
officer. vino during many yeafs service has had
charge OF some of the important government
works, and has published number of volumes
and papers having reference chiefly to engi-
neering science.
Joel Asaph Allen. distinguished as a natural
list, was chosen as a member of the academy in
1876. He Is at present curator of the depart
ment of manuals and birds III the American
museum of natural history. New York. He was
student under and an associate of Agassiz.
Prof. George F. Barker. professor Of physics
at the university of Pennsylvania, has been a
member of the academy since 1876 He was
associated with Prof. Silliman at Yale, and won
such recognition as a physicist that he has on
| h1pn sci tp1 hy
ment for important scientific missions.
Frederick 4. L. Barnard. the distinguished
educator. known best perhaps president of
Columbia college. New iOrh, was one OF the
original incorpOrators of the academy. He is
! distinguished both a teacher and "a writer on
educational topics. and as physicist has en-
gagged in important scientific researches.
The venerable Col. William H. c. Bartlett
one OF the original members, after serving in
the' field as an engineer officer. spent many
useful years professor at West Point and
| for his work while there. both as a teacher as
| an author and as an original investigator re-
celved honors from several universities and
! scientific bodies.
! Prof. Alexander Graham Bell. of this CITY,
who became a member of the body in 1888 is
/ probably best known pppularly as the inventor
i OF the telephone, but he has carried on MANY
abs'ruse Investigations in physics, which have
, gained MN an eminent place among scientific
/ men. Much OF his time of late years has been
/ given to Investigations relating to deaf-mutism
| and Incredibly, as instanced in the cases of fami-
lies anc communities among whom many deaf
| mutes have appeared.
DR.. John 5. Billings, L. S. A. another distin-
! guished resident of Washington. became a
member of the academy in 1888. DIR. Billings.
afsr active service during the war as a sur
geon, became i'll 1864 connected with the sur
geOn-generars office in this city, and since
then mas won distinction by his work there.
His greatest achievement, perhaps has been
the 'Index-Catalogue of the Library of che
Surgeon-Generars Office" which contains the
| photography OF every medical subject as far as
it is contained in tse great medical library
| under DIR. Billings care.
DIR. Henry p. Bowditch, professor at Cam
| bridge. grandson of Nathaniel Bowditch, be-
came a member of the academy in 1887. having
won eminence in science by his investigations
as a psychologist.
Prot. VIM. II. Brewer, of Yale college, owed his
election TO membership in the academy in 1880.
to-his researches in chemistry His scientific
papers are devoted principallyto chemical ag-
riculture.
Prof. William h. Brooks, of Johns Hopkins
| university, made member in 1884, is widely
known naturalist. having contributed many
valuable papers and reports to periodicals, and