EDITORIALS.

It is the chief function of the national, state and provincial geological surveys to bring forth the great concrete facts relative to the structure and resources of their several fields. Within their special domains they also do an important work in the correlation of structures and formations, in the systematic aggregation of the facts, in the organizing of results, and in the development of the fundamental principles of geological science. To some extent they are permitted to do this beyond their own fields, but in the main the boundaries of these fields are the limits of their coördinations. They therefore leave a great function to be performed by some other agency in the coördination of interstate, international, and intercontinental factors. They are also restrained by their relationships to a somewhat too narrowly utilitarian public from devoting much direct attention to the solution of the deeper and broader problems that constitute the soul of science, though their contributions bear upon these in the most radical and important way. In the primary work of systematic observation, and the development of the immediate conclusions that spring therefrom, these surveys surpass all other agencies in the value of their contributions to the growth of the science, but in the secondary and ulterior work of correlation, in the synthetic aggregation and organization of results, and in the analytical and philosophical treatment of the whole, they need to be supplemented by agencies whose facilities and limitations lie in other lines, agencies whose relations and dependencies are complementary in nature. This secondary and ulterior work, in some degree, has been done by individual master students of systematic and philosophical geology, but to a very great extent it has not been done at all. It is a function which properly falls to universities, if the universities can only rise to

meet it; for it is the function of universities, in the larger modern view, not only to rehearse science, nor merely even to educate young geologists, important as that is, but to develop science for science's own sake, and for its own inherent and permanent utilities as distinguished from its immediate applicabilities. To fulfill this function they must not only realize and appreciate it, but they must be equipped for field and experimental work, as well as library and laboratory study. Ideal correlations and academic systematizing are as apt to be hindrances as helps to the progress of science. While a few of the great universities of this country and Europe have made notable advances in these directions, the universities are, on the whole, far behind the great surveys in the performance of the work which properly falls to them. This is due not so much to a lack of appreciation of the function as to the lack of facilities.

With the development of this higher function of the universities there goes a coördinate function for a university journal of geology, a journal whose special efforts shall be devoted to promoting the growth of systematic, philosophical, and fundamental geology, and to the education of professional geologists. No part of the wide domain can wisely be neglected by any journal, but there seems to be an open field for a periodical which specially invites the discussion of systematic and fundamental themes, and of international and intercontinental relations, and which in particular seeks to promote the study of geographic and continental evolution, orographic movements, volcanic coördinations and consanguinities, biological developments and migrations, climatic changes, and similar questions of wide and fundamental interest. This field is not likely to be successfully cultivated except by a systematic endeavor, pursued through a period of years, to bring together the latest and best summations of the results attained in the several national fields. in a common medium, where they can be compared and discussed, and where tentative correlations will suggest themselves, out of which, in turn, working hypotheses will naturally spring, leading on to such direct investigations as the nature of each

question invites.

It would be presumptuous to assume that the JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY can cultivate with more than very partial success this field, but it especially invites contributions of this

class.

Another phase of geology which is thought to stand in much need of active cultivation is found in the clear and sharp analysis of its processes, the exhaustive classification of its phenomena, especially on genetic bases, the development of criteria of discrimination, the more complete evolution and formulation of its principles and the development of its working methods. The recent opening of new fields of research and the rapid progress of several new and important departments of the science give peculiar emphasis to this need. The rising generation of geologists, the hope of the science, should be schooled in these latest and most critical aspects of the science. A department of the JOURNAL, entitled "Studies for Students," has been opened for the special cultivation of this field and for its adaptation to advanced students and progressive teachers of geology. Mere elementary presentations of processes and principles are not desired, but searching and critical expositions are solicited suited to the needs of young geologists who seek the highest professional equipment, and to progressive teachers who desire the fullest practicable command of the newest developments of the subject. These contributions may not be without their value to those who have already borne a considerable part of the heat and burden of life's professional day.

It is our desire to open the pages of the JOURNAL as broadly as a due regard for merit will permit, and to free it as much as possible from local and institutional aspects. It will have the very important advantage of being published under the auspices and guarantee of the University of Chicago, and will be free from the usual financial embarrassments attending the publication of a scientific magazine. This necessarily imposes upon the local editors the immediate responsibility for its editorship. Beyond this, it is hoped that its institutional relationship will disappear entirely in an earnest effort to promote the widest

interests of the science. As an earnest of this wider effort several eminent geologists, representing some of the leading universities of this country, and some of the great geological organizations of Europe, have kindly consented to act as associate editors. T. C. C.

UPON invitation of the World's Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition committees were appointed by the several sections of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at its Rochester meeting to coöperate with it in completing the organization of scientific congresses to be held at Chicago in connection with the forthcoming World's Fair. The committee appointed by the geological and geographical section consisted of Thomas C. Chamberlin, John C. Branner, Grove K. Gilbert, W. J. McGee, Rollin D. Salisbury, Eugene A. Smith, Charles D. Walcott, J. F. Whiteaves, Geo. H. Williams, H. S. Williams and N. H. Winchell.

It has been arranged that this committee should undertake the work of preparing the scientific program for the Geological Congress. The committee have prepared a provisional schedule of topics, which they have submitted to the Advisory Council for revision. It has seemed to the committee that all contributions should be such as to have an international interest. Preferably, they should be subjects that can only be treated most advantageously in such a congress, especially those that involve the bringing together of data from different lands for comparison. The committee suggest the organization of the subjects under the following general classes:

FIRST. Such as shall show the present state of geological progress. It is believed that this can best be done by an exhibition of geological maps which shall show the latest and best results of official and other surveys. As such maps will be prepared, it is hoped, for the World's Fair, duplicates can be made at a slight expense for the use of the Congress. It is hoped that each country that has made any notable progress in map

ping its geological formations will furnish for the Congress at least a general geological map, if not also special or analytical maps.

SECOND. Such subjects as bear upon continental growth and intercontinental relations. It is proposed to make this a leading line of discussion during the Congress, in the belief that there is no subject more appropriate, and that there is none which better represents the present efforts of geologists or commands a more general interest. It is hoped that analytical maps will be prepared by the geologists of the several countries representing the stages of growth of these regions in each of the great eras from the Archean to the Pleistocene, and that such analytical maps may constitute a leading feature of the several presentations. Among the subjects upon which contributions are specially invited are the following: The correlation of continental and intercontinental orographic movements and geographic accretions by sedimentation; The coördination of periods of vulcanism in the different countries; The coördination of climatic states and changes; The correlation of faunal and floral variations and migrations. It is hoped that one session may be devoted to such coördination papers bearing upon each of the great subdivisions: viz., Archean, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, and Pleistocene.

THIRD. Papers on Paleontological and Archeological Geology of international scope.

FOURTH. Contributions to Physical, Structural and Petrological Geology having international or general bearings.

FIFTH. Contributions to Economic Geology having general bearings.

SIXTH. Miscellaneous papers of especial and general interest. The foregoing groups are intended to embrace and coördinate the list of special themes announced in the circular issued. by the local committee some months since, except such as may be best suited to popular presentation, for which special provision is to be made.

It will be determined later, when the number and nature of the papers are ascertained, whether all will be arranged so as to