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American Geologists

American Geologists image
Parent Issue
Day
5
Month
June
Year
1843
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

On the 26th ultimo, the American Associaion of Gcologists and Naturnüsls held its fburtli anniversury meeting m Albany. Among otherp, we notice the names of Professor Fioughton, of our State Univerpity, also State Seolopist. Professor Silliman, of Yule College; Professor Jackson Geolngist of Maine: James P. Espv, tho "Storm Kin"," Professors Rokers and ITandeman of Peunsylvania; Piofessory Beek, Vanuxem, Emmons, Hall, nnd Redfield, of New'York; Emmerson nnd Loscall, of MaPíashiuetts, and O wen of Indiana. The Albnny Journnl is publishing the highly inïereslinor proceedings. We condense froin tliat paper. The quesMOH, disetr-'sed at considerable length on the first flay, was a theory proponnded by Professor Dana of the U. S. Exploring Expedifion, viz. - That the metarr.orplio?is of rocks is ocensionpd bv the action of the heafed wnters catiscd by volcanic eruptions bcneath the ocean. After mnch discussion, during which ntimerous vahiablo facls were clicited, the President, Professor Rflgers, remarked, that he thonght the fallacy of this theory could be easijy pointed out, "and prornieed tosnimitnn answer in writing. Professor Beek promised a similar communlcation on the subject. Arrangemcnts were madf for the delivery, durintr the sittinpr of the Association. a public lctore on prominent subjeots connecied with GeoloL'ical science.Prof. Baily of West Point read an inter. esting paper giving the result of hts discoveries of the exislence, form and character of crystals in the bark?, leave?, nnd ashes of the difieren kinds of wood. These were very minute and were on'y rendered visible by aid of powerful magfinfying glasses. The autlmr ülustrated hissubj-ct by a mimber of beautiful diagram?. These ciystnls though no moietlian 1.1 50th parlof nn inch in length, made up in nnrnber whitf thoy lacked in size. More than 1,000,000 could be fonnd on a sin gle square inch in the líber of the wood. Prof. Jackson inquired of Prof. B. if he had ever exam ned ludían maize, to ascertain whether any of tlm phosphales were present in nny of the different parts of' the plant? Prof. Baily replied tliat he had never fonnd crystals in any of the grass tribes. In one case where the plant hrul been submerged for some time in a solution of the suiphate of copper, and thé crystals of that sulphuie had been fonnd deposited in the cells. But crystals had nevpr been found in any of tlie grasses or ceral plante. Dr. Owk.n iuquired whether the crystals were fonnd in the living plants, or were formed during the progre.-s of dscny? Prof. Baily replied tliat they were formed first in the yojng lea ves, and increaeed as the plant or tree canie to malurity. He couid not sa y bnt what they were formed in the profpèsa of decay. In reply to the question of Dr. Jackson, Prof. B. said he had never fonnd two distinct crystals in tlie same cel!. In reply to a question of Prof. Bkck, Mr. B. replied that the general idea was that after t! e j'.iicy matters of the plant had perfbrmed their functions, thoy deposiled the crystaJs in thcir exudation. This subject wos here passed. Dr. Owen read an elnborate paper on the Geology of the Western S'atès - principally of Indiana nsd tlie Ohió vnüey. Dr. Nicolayi sta'ed the reetilt of Jiis Geölögical observations in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and the terntory of the F:ir West. Prof. Emmersoh lectnred on "Natural Ilis torv, as a Branch oí' ICducation." Tumo ano fourth Dats, - Mr. Nicollet read a valuahle paper on the formations oí' the Misfouri River. Mr. Bulklky read a pnpergivinga description of the remuins of the gigantip animal found in Aiabama. Fragmentsof this huge species were exhibired. Mr. B. stated that ■ froin !he vertobrae discovered,the animal must have been 70 feet in lenglh. The name of Zygodon liad been given to the species. The fossil reronjns were fonnd in a gtey arenaceous marl, from one to six feet beluw the surface. In one localitv, the bones were so numerous that they interfered with the cultivation of the ground, and the proprietor burnt largo qnantities of the bones. Mr. W. C. Redfield alluded to the impression made upon liid mind upun liis first exaininaiion of ihese remains of this rigantic animal, ríe regretted very much that some suiiable place had not jet been found to set up the enfire skeïeton for the inspection of the public. Tliis room would be an excellent place, and Kuch an addition would well set off thela'ge and extentüve collection of fossils for whieh tliis Museum was distinguished aoboveoll otliers. Ho yet entertiiined the hope that the libera lity of the Legisla ture, orof the citizens of Albany wonld prevent this rare and American fossil animal frimi being taken to a foreign couniry. Prof. Baily romarked as an instance that ! in tlie works of Nature, the gigantic and the i minute were found togetlier, thnt he had px ainined the molrix ofthis huge specimen, nnd h.-.d found the microscopio fossils of the Polyihalamin.Dr. Jackson read an interesting paper on the subjecl of drifr. It had Ibrmerly been supposed by Geoloyists tliat the drift every where fouiid in nbundance, liod boen causeü by a transient deluge, and inany hacü lookcd to that recordod in Uie bcok of Genesis ns the cause. But that opinión liad bern abandoned, and all Geologisls nów concurred m nttributing the plienomona of the drift to a period antenor to the existenre of man. That this was the case, was evident, from the fact, tliat in no partof the drift, were tliere found any remains hearing tlie least trace of Imving been caused by the hand of man. Thns instead of repnrdini the mility nnd long continued overflowincr of the now fiabitahlc earth from wlnelt these drifts liad been deposited, as a mark of the wrath of the Suureme Bemg, we should renard it ral her as nn evidence of bis mercy and goodness. For in this view, t will appear that man, the last of bis works, wns not created until tlie last of the mighty convulsions of nature, the evidences of wliich we can nowtrace, Imd cauted, and the earth had been fiitted for bis use and support. The subject of drifr, bejng intrinsically important and interesting, was referred to a comrnitlee for the purpoee of a report and diocussion.On motion of Prof. Hitchcock, it was resolved ns the opinión oí' tliis Association, that the skelefon of the gigantic Zygodon, fragment8 of which had been presented to us this nfternoon. should be purchased and placed in the noblp State nollection at Albany - so that tlíis novel and uniqua specimen may add to the interest of this central locality, to the scientific and the learned. Inanswerto an inquiry, it was sfated that the price asked for the entire keleton was $200.- LU. Mes.

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Signal of Liberty
Old News