The Washington times., 1903-12-21
LABORATORY TO STUDY
GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
Vienna Congress Advocates
Such Institution.
WOULD AID SCIENCE MUCH
Resume of the Proceedings Contained
in Report of the United
States Survey.

The founding of some institution at
which problems in geology involving
chemistry and physics would be made
a speciality was urged at the ninth ses-
sion of the International Congress of
Biologists, held in Vienna last August
A brief account of the proceedings of the
congress has just been issued by the
United States Geological Survey.
The Survey was represented by six of
It's most active members: Messrs.
Becker, Emmons. Van Hise. Vaughan.
Ward, and Willis. Thirty countries had
representatives in the Congress, includ-
ing all the important nations of Europe
except Norway. and several countries
outside of Europe, namely, the United
States, Mexico. and Argentine republic
on the American continent, Algeria and
Egypt in Africa, and the East Indies
and Japan in Asia. The total number
present was 352
The congress, which lasted one week
" as formally opened by His Imperial
Eighness the Archduke Rainier. whose
address Of welcome was followed by one
from the honorary president OF the
congress, w. Won Hartel. minister of
culture and public instruction.
DR.. Emil Tietze, director of the Aus
trian Geological Survey, was the pre-
siding officer of the congress.
On Alternate Days.
The scientific sessions were continued
twice day on every other day through
out the meeting. alternate days being
devoted TO geological excursions in the
neighborhood of Vienna, or within each
reach of IL by rail. The first days ses-
sion was devoted to a discussion of vol
canic phenomena. the second TO a con-
sideration of the present state OF knowI-
edge OF the crystalline schists, the third
TO a discussion of the phenomena OF
overthrust faulting, the fourth to a con-
slderation of the existing state of knowl-
edge with regard to the geology Of the
Balkan Peninsula. and the Orient.
On the fifth day, the congress met in
four separate sections to listen TO
memoirs on special subjects. such as
Photography. paleOntology. glaciology.
and economics. The final session was
given up to the special business of the
congress.
Reports were received on the geologic
map OF Europe, on the international de-
termination of shore lines in the north
ern hemisphere, on international CO.
operation in certain lines of investiga-
NAcAir anu Oh ONiiSI SUBJECTS OF minor I'M
portance.
Spendiaroff Prize.
The Spendiaroff prize for this year
was awarded to Prof. W Brogger, Of
Christiania. Norway. for the most nota-
BILE contribution to the advance Of
photographic science. 1t was decided
the next award of this prize should be
for general geology. ana the theme for
competition was defined as monograph
ION some general geological horizon
over as wide extent as possible
In view of the insufficiency of the ex-
listing chemical and physical data for
the solution Of such problems as eleva-
ton and subsistence, IL was resolved
that IT is a matter of the utmost i'm
portance to the entire scientific world
that some institution should found a
well-equipped geophysical laboratory for
the study of the problems Of geology
which involve further researches in
chemistry and physics.
1t was decided TO hold the meeting of
the tenth congress. in 1906, in the City
of Mexico.