New-York tribune., 1891-08-27
THE GEOLOGICAL CONGRESS.
REPRESENTATIVES, PRESENT FROM ALL
PARTS OF EUROPE.
AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME BIZ SECRETARY NOBLE
"A TRIP THROUGH YELLOWSTONE
PARK PLANNED.
rFIFoRAPu To THE TRIRUNE.T


Washington, Aug. 26.-The series Of scientinc con-
.ventons which have held possession Of Washington for
fortnight past may be said to culmnate in the fIth
international Congress Of Geologists which met To-
day and viii remain in session till next Tuesday. Inc
200 or 300 members present represent Austria, Cnhs
da. France Germany, Great Britain. Mexico. Rumania
Russia. sweden. switzerland and the United States oy
far the largest delegation being from Germany For
the first time in the history of the Congress the
language most spoken is English which most of the
members can use to a fair extent; but there IS no
restriction to Engish and French stiIl remains the
official language. The badge OF membership is beau
ttu bronze medal, struck at the Mint. The design.
By Arnold Hague, OF Washington, consists Of crossed
mallets the adverse and map of North America on
the reverse.
The congress- IN lbs organization and historv. is
described in the address Of Professor lie Cone at the
opening session, which was held at the Columbian
University this afternoon. large and appreciative
audience filed the hall. on the stage were seated
Secretary Noble, Major Powell. chief Of the Geological
Survey Professor James Hall, Of Albany, the Nestor
OF American Geology and still hale and vigorous: {:
Professor J. McKenny Hughes, Of Cambridge Uni
verslty England: Professor Joseph lie Conte preSi-
dentelect Of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science Gardner c. Hubbard. chairman
OF tile local reception committee; DIR. Hermann Cred
ner of Leipsic: Gregor Stefanescu, of Bucharest;
Professor F. Schmidt and Professor P. Tschernyschew
of St. Petersburg Professor Won Ztel of Munich and
the secretaries. Professors s. F. Emmons. Of Washing
ton. and H. S. Williams of Cornell.
Professor Emmons called the Congress to order and
reouested Professor Hughes to take the chair. The
following officers were then elected on the recon-
mendation of the council: Honorary presidents j. d.
Dana. James Hall president, J. $. NewbeTy vice
presdents-United States. Joseph Le Conte j. W. Pow
ell and Raphael Pumpelly Canada, J. C. X. La1amme
and W. Macfarlane Mexico, A. Del Castillo: England,
T. Mex Hughes Scotland, II. VI. Cadell; France, a.
Gaudray and Charles Barrels; Belgium, f. Van Den
Brock: Holland, G.. A. F. MOlengraaf; Norway n.
Rensch: Sweden, Gerard De Geer; Russia. T.
Tschernyschew, f. scmidt and A. PanlOw Denmark
Dr. Johnstrup: Germany. DR.. ZItte and II. Cred
ner Austria, DR.. E. Tetze; Hungary. Joseph Won
Szabe spain NJ f. De Castro; Portugal Joaquin FIJI
ippe Merry Delgado Italy Professor g. Uzei switzer-
land H. Golllez Rumania, G. Stefanscu; India, E. X.
Maet New. Zealand, F.. Hutton Australia. A. Liver
sidge: Chilli F. J. San Roman; general secretaries
H. s. Williams S. f. Emmons secretaries, J. c. Bran
ner. f. Margere, G. II. Williams, DR.. F. Frech. DIR.
Dener Whitman Cross; treasurer, Arnold Hague.
Professor lie COnte, AS senior vce-president, took
the chair in the absence Of the president, DIR. New
berry who unable to attend the Congress because OF
Illness "The idea OF fhe Geological Congress- said
Professor Le Conte, "was born in America,
in 1875, in the mind Of It. sterry Hunt.
The meetings have been held at Paris
in 1873 Bologna in 1881 Berlin in 1885 and London
in 1883 This is the fifth meeting now convened, and
it Is the first at which the number Of foreigners
nearly equals those of citizens of the country In whid1
it is held" The purposes Of the Congress were stated
Prominent among them are these To secure uniformity
Of classification and nomenclature to agree on scheme
Of cOlOrs indicate the different strata In the geological
map and to discuss vexed questions Of classification and
correlation The maps of Europe and Of America were
compared and the cOmplexty Of the former wac con
trasted with the simplicity Of the latter several
salient points in American geology were mentioned.
First the continuity of the record the gaps in con-
tinuty being few compared with those OF European
strata second the faults Of structure, long lines Of
fracture with upheaval of the beds on one side and
the line of depression the other sde so as to make
a displacement of 100 to 1000 feet
third. mountain structure, type Of mountain
structure being formed by uptlted strata as In the
Sierra Nevada fourth, lava floods, covering from
10000 TO 100000 square miles. with lava 1000 to
1000 feet deep fifth continental movements eommenc
ing in the later tertiary and terminating IN the begin
ming Of the duatenary, causing displacement OF 29o0 70
5000 feet in both sides of the continent; sixth that
the ice sheet was first and most completely demon
as those which were conspicuous mt glance and would
he easily seen bv the visiting geOlOgists on their
cursiOns after the adjournment Of the Congress.
Mr. Hubbard chairman Of the Local Committee, in
his address Of welcome said that the projected eX-
curslon 10 the Yellowstone Park Ctah ana Coorado
would surpas in scientific interest any journey ever
undertaken showing the longest mountain with the
richest deposit Of fossils, where Marsh had discovered
the primeval horse and other wonderful types; mo
richest valleys and the greatest canon river In the
world. Arnold Hague. who had spent years Of his
life in exploring the YellOwston vould conduct them
through that wonderland. Major veil. the first To
make the descent OF the Colorado hI-cr would lead
them into tile grand canon OF that river, over mile
in height and Mr.. Emmons would guide them on
another part of their journey.
secretary Noble as Chief Of the Department Of the
made a graceful address of welcome, in which he eX-
pressed interest in the objects of the Congress
aIco O1audpd he "a
vey. Professor Hughes replying, continued the line
Of compliment 10 the Geological Survey. pTasng the
llberalty Of the United states Government in scatter
ing the reports broadcast. " We continually re-
ceivng imperial volULles,T he said. in which almost
everything is new to u.s." Professor Albert GaudTy.
Of Paris. spoke briefly, in French and Major
Powell closed the meeting with few words of vel
come.
The evening was occupied by a reception at the
Arlington. rendered TO the International Congress by
the Geological Society of America.
EXCITEMENT IN THE CHFROEFF STRIP