Evening star., 1949-04-20
Dr.. Whitman Cross, Ex-Chief
OF Geological Survey, Dies
Become Renowned
Rose Funcier After
Retirement in 1925

DR.. Whitman Cross, "a. one of
the worlds outstanding geologists
and a renowned authority on rose
culture. died today In the Chest
nut Lodge Sanatorium at Rock
vile. where he had been in Ill
health for almost five years.
DR.. Cross. oldest member Of the
National Academy of Science. was
head of the United States Geolog-
ical Survey for 81 years until he
retired. after reaching the age
limit. in 1925. He was the author
Of numerous works on geology.
After his retirement. DR.. Cross
began growing roses as hobby In
his garden at 101 e. Kirke street.
Chevy Chase. Soon his scientific
interest was aroused by mutations
he observed and he began cross
breeding and developing new vari-
cites of roses.
Garden Became Showplace.
Within q few years DR.. Cross
had more than 1000 rose bushes
and his garden became one of
the showplaces in this area. A
visit to the garden became fea-
ture on the entertainment pro-
grams OF meetings of National and
international scientific groups.
During the Towering season DR..
and Mrs. Cross sent large bou-
quetsdaily to Walter Reed and
other hospitals.
Although DR.. Cross did not at
tempt to commercialize his hobby
many Of the new varieties he de-
veloped are now sold CONNER
cially. Among them are the Mrs.
Whitman Cross" a salmon-col-
ored climber which blooms
monthly: the Chevy Chase" a
red climber: the Hon. Lady
Lindsay" a shrub rose which
bears salmon-colored blooms all
summer. and q number Of hybrid
tea roses.
After DR.. Cross became Ill Mrs.
Cross moved to an apartment at
1901 Connecticut avenue NV.
Native Of Massachusetts,.
DR.. Cross was born in Amherst.
Mass. on September /, 1854, the
son Of the Rev. and Mrs. Moses
Kimball Cross. He graduated
from Amherst College with a
of science degree In
1875. He was the oldest living
almnus of the college. The geolo-
gist was awarded an honorary de-
gree of doctor of science at Am
herst in 1925. DR.. Cross studied
at the University Of Leipzig fol-
lowing his graduation from
Amherst and obtained the degree
Of doctor Of philosophy there In
1880.
After his return from Germany.
DR.. Cross came to Washington as
assistant head geologist at the
Geological Survey. In 1888 he
was appointed head Of that agency
and was largely instrumental in
developing 1t to the important
status it now commands. He was
Of the authoritative
work, "Quantitative Classification
Of Igneous Rocks" which won
international acclaim In geological
circles in 1908.
Treasurer Of Academy.
In addition to the National
OF Science. Of which he
was treasurer from 1911 to 1919,
DR.. Cross was q member Of the
Geological Society Of America. Of
which he was a past president: the
Washington Academy Of Sciences.
the American Philosophical Soci-I
ETY., the Academy of Natural Sci
ences Of Philadelphia: the Geo.
logical Society OF London. the
Literary Society Of Washington
and the Potomac Rose Society. He
was a member Of the National
Council from 1918 TO 1922
and served both as Its treasurer
and as vice chairman Of the diyi-I
sion of geology and geography.
In l94I the Potomac Rose So-I
ciety awarded Q gold medA TO Or.
Cross for his outstanding achieve
ments in rose culture"
Surveyed Canal Landslides-
In 1915 when landslides In Cule-
bra cut threatened TO close the
Panama Canal. Or. Cross headed
d committee appointed by the Ma
tionai Academy Of Sciences 70 sur