Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/270

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��well); and Dr. Martin's plain declaration of the character of the work thej- support ougbt to call a blush of ahnme to the cheek of ever>' one of them, unless, indeed, the disease may have already affected the vaso-motor centre,

��The report of the commissioners of the Massachusetts state topographical sur^-ey for I8«4 shows that the system of co-operative work with the U. S, geological survey has proved entirely successful. The work has been under the immediate control of the U. S. geological Burvej', but subject to the inspection of the state commissioners at every stage. Although the field -ope ration did not begin until midsummer, and was subject to all the difficulties of starting, an area of several hun- dred miles for detailed contoured maps was surveyed before the winter closed the 6cld-work. The parties, few in number, were so placed that their work fairly represents all the varieties of lopograpliy within the state; and the results give a fair measure of the cost of a com- pleted map on the scale of two inches to the mile, with contours at intervals of twenty feet. It appears that this cost is not likely to exceed fifteen dollars per square mile, and may he brought within twelve dollars.

The report reeoramemls a further appropria- tion of three thousand dollars per annum, to be used in the determination by triangulation of the corners of the several town areas. The present system of deUrailing the towns and preserving the memorj- of their bounds is an inheritance from former ages. It is said that in the old English days the memoi^ of the boundaries was effectively maintained liy tak- ing all the boys of the town to the bounds, and soundly flogging them along the lines. By repeating this from year to year, the male population of the township was sure to have a lively, though perhaps unpleasant, sense of these limits. This simple metliod of fixing the boundaries has fallen into disuse, but as yet no more elfeulive modern syslem has taken its place.

��Tug coMMissiosERs of the Pennsylvania geological survey have stipulated with Major Powell to prosecute the survey of tlial slate on terms similar to those arranged with Mm- sachusetts. The plan requires an appropri- alion of ten thousand dollars per annum on the part of the stale. If this plan la carrid out, — and it is hardly conceivable that the Pennsylvania legislature will not do its part of the work, — the map of that state should be completed within ten years.

One of the greatest binderances to the «■ velopmcnt of the United Slates arisea from tk imperfect knowledge of its surface and struc- ture. Our modern life cleaves so closely to the earth, that al every step we need a vast amount of accurate information which out forefathers did not require. If the admiraUe plans of the present dii^ector of the geologicsl survey are allowed to bear their point, by the end of this century, this hinderance may lie re- moved; the whole surface of the national area wUl be mapped on a scale proportionate to llie needs; and the cost of the work will not much. if at all, exceed that of maintaining a regi- ment of cavalry for the same time. There will be reason for sad comments on the American reputation for sagacity, if this work is not done.

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��Any one who has seen the results of terrible upheaval at the south oaused by war is surprised when here and there he s«e» signs of returning prosperity. Knowing W how many a southerner, as he aits on his well- worn mahogany and gazes at his streaked mir- ror, it is the question of each day where lie may obtiin the meagre ration of hominy for himself he was wont to mete out to his slaves. it is actually a cause of wonder, when one bears now and then of the prosperity of some of the Gonthcrn colleges, and at last of tb« revival of an interest in science, such as is shown by the formation of the Elisha Mitchell scientific society in North Carolina.

This society was the outgrowth of the small knot of studious men about the coU^e I

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