Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 31.djvu/875

Rh political history of the Dominion is divided, for the purposes of the study, into three important epochs: The era of the French régime, from 1608 to 1760; the period of slow growth and accruing experience in the working of representative institutions under British rule, 1760 to 1840; and the period of enlarged political liberties and responsible government, 1840 to 1867. "Since 1867, the various provinces, united as the Dominion of Canada, have entered on a fourth era, pregnant with promise."

to the historical address of Dr. J. T. Stewart, the Association was organized in 1875, as a summer school for the study of the natural sciences, at which Professors Wood, Hyatt, Wilder, and Comstock lectured. Meetings were held monthly, except in summer, for seven years, and afterward weekly. During the period of the society's existence, two hundred and two papers have been read, on a wide range of subjects of scientific interest. The society began with thirteen members, and now has one hundred, while the average attendance upon the meetings has increased from about twelve to one hundred and five. The museum contains more than ten thousand specimens, and the herbarium embraces the entire flora of the Peoria section, "and more," and the records of visitors to the rooms show that interest in the collections is growing fast among the public. Besides a number of papers having a broader scope in discussion, the "Bulletin" contains articles of more special interest on the geology, paleontology, flora, climate, and coleoptera of Peoria and its vicinity, a study of "The Lake as a Microcosm," and a memoir on the "Immigration of Animals and Plants."

commissioners report the reservation nearly clear of obstructions, only two of the old buildings yet remaining on the premises, and one of them to be removed shortly. Improvements have been made in many of the appurtenances of the property, for the convenience of visitors and greater security. Plans were in preparation for the restoration of the scenery of the shore and islands. Some of the fruits of the work of the commission are seen in the improved government of the village of Niagara Falls. A company having been formed to build a railroad along the gorge of the river from below the Falls to the Whirlpool, an act has been secured protecting the reservation against intrusion. The commissioners regret that the whole debris, slope from the Falls to the Whirlpool has not been included within the reservation. The Falls were visited during the excursion season by 187,781 persons coming in excursion trains, and probably as many in regular trains. The stay of the visitors is "longer than in former years." The latest measurements give the rate of recession along the whole contour of the Horseshoe Fall since 1842 as about two and four tenths feet per year. The recession of the American Fall has been slight. The heights above the level of the water in the river are, American Fall, one hundred and sixty-seven feet; Horseshoe Fall, one hundred and fifty-eight feet. It is estimated that more than one thousand species of flowering plants and ferns are native at the Falls or in their neighborhood.

present (the fifteenth) annual report of Commissioner Eaton is the last of the series prepared by him. The year has afforded abundant evidence of the value attached to the annual reports of the Bureau in the demand for copies at home and abroad; and, in consideration of this fact, the Commissioner emphasizes the need of uniformity in the general plan and nomenclature of State and local reports, as a means of facilitating analysis and comparative study. Attention is called to several particulars in respect to school attendance. The actual attendance is undoubtedly increasing, but improvement in respect to regularity is not so decided as could be wished. "One of the chief hindrances to the progress of our common schools is the multiplicity of school districts and of independent local authorities. . . . Wherever these 'petty school