The herald., 1897-09-15
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS OF
TOPICS OF THE DAY
The Annular Theory Of Gold Distribu-
tion-Forest Preservation.
Red Snow

The Southern California Academy of
Sciences began it's seventh years work
in a most auspicious manner last night
in one of the most interesting meetings
that the organization has held. The
meeting was held at the rooms of the
academy, 3301a South Broadway, and
was attended by nearly 100 persons in
terested in scientific research. President
w. A. Spalding called the meeting to
order at o'clock and took advantage of
the occasion to compliment the members
upon the progress that has been made,
pointing out the good that had been
accomplished Since its organization. He
urged the necessity for new members
and suggested that if each one could Sc
cure at least one new member the good
of the society and its profit to the men,
bers themselves would be more than
doubled
He stated that the hope that had so
long been entertained of securing
museum would not be abandoned, but
that extra efforts were to be made to
attain that end, as there were known to
be a number of private collections in this
part Of the state the owners OF which
were simply waiting for an opportunity
to contribute them to some such So
ciety. Incidentally he mentioned that
the society hoped some day to secure
home Of it's own, that depending upon
membership. After the reading of the
minutes of the previous meeting the
names Of seven applicants for member
ship were read. They were referred to
the board of directors. Abbot Kinney, a
commissioner of the Yosemite valley
offered resolution calling the atten-
ton of the park commissioners to the
opportunity affordeS in this city and
county for the creation Of an arboretum.
The resolution was adopted and the Sec
retary was instructed to communicate
with the commissioners on the subject.
Prof. I. N. Vail of Pasadena was then
introduced and spoke on THE Annular
Theory" and it's bearing on the gold dis
coveries in Alaska. His theory in brief
is that in bygone ages the earth was sur
rounded by rings as is Saturn today,
these rings being composed of vapors of
metals and other substances which were
thrown off by the heat of the earth. Upon
SoANdNI Win tAS dtIhOoPAClC lAcy Uc-
came canopies over the earth, and these
canopies gradually settled at the poles
or the points where the resistance Of
the earth's centrifugal force was least
Among these vapors was that of gold.
He held that the distribution of the gold
throughout the world was through the
agency Of icebergs in a less remote
period. The address was generally dis
cussed by the members in delightful
strain for nearly an hour.
RDbot Kinney Of the Yosemite valley
commission spoke Interestingly upon the
Forest Reserves of California" He
pointed out the danger to any state from
the denuding of the mountains Of their
timber and especially the danger to a
country of periodic rains like this. He
also mentioned the Importance Of the
California trees saying that three Of the
most important tree families Of trees
known are grown in this state.
DR.. ]. w. Johnson then gave a micro
scopic exhibit Of "Protococcus Nivalis" !"
the coloring matter in red snow.
At the next meeing Of the academy
Prof. William Dozier will deliver an ad-
dress upon "Eclipses" A practical
demonstration Of Roentgen rays will also
be a part of the program. The next
meeting will be held October 5th.