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authority would be futile and it seemed to me that by the combined action of the Local Sections of the Society sufficient interest could be aroused to start a national campaign backed by governmental authority. The matter has already been taken up with the U. S. Food Administration and in reply they state, “You are advised that the movement of your Society, as indicated in your letter, has our heartiest approval and support, and we trust your Society will do its utmost to aid in the elimination of these pests and the conservation of much needed food thereby’’-and in a subsequent letter-“permit me to suggest that you take this matter up with Dr. Hayward, Chief of the Bureau of Insecticides and Fungicides, Department of Agriculture, who have their permanent representatives in all sections of the country and would, therefore, be in a better position to take charge of this matter, the importance of which we realize, than the food administration.” A letter together with a copy of this one will be sent by me to Dr. Hayward. Any action which you or your Section may take to further this movement will be greatly appreciated Very truly yours, (Signed) HARRYLE B. GRAY
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETlNG AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PlTTSBURGH, PA., DECEMBER 28, IgI7-JANUARY 2, 1918 The seventy-fifth annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the affiliated societies was held in Pittsburgh, Pa., from December 28, 1917,to January 2, 1918. The first general session of the Association was held in the Music Hall of Carnegie Institute on Friday evening, December 28. President Charles R. Van Hise of the University of Wisconsin, retiring President of the Association, delivered an address on the subject “The Economic Effect of the World War in the United States.” A meeting of Section C, Chemistry, was held on Friday morning, December 28, presided over by the chairman, Professor Wm. A. Noyes. The feature of the evening was the informal but exceedingly enjoyable address of the retiring chairman, Professor Julius Stieglitz of the University of Chicago, upon the subject “The Electron Theory of Valence and I t s Application to Problems of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry.” After an extended discussion of the address, Doctor David Horn of Bryn Mawr presented a paper on “A Chemical Study of Formalin Fumigation.” A paper by J. Davidson of the Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D. C., entitled “Do Seedlings Reduce Nitrates?” was read by title. On Friday afternoon the Section met with Section D, Engineering, and the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education. On December 29, a joint symposium was held with Section E, Geology and Geography. Officers for 1918 were elected by Section C, as follows: Vice-President and Chairman: Alexander Smith, Columbia University. Secretary: A. H. Blanchard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Member of Section Committee: Benjamin F. Lovelace, Johns Hopkins University. AMERICAN METRIC ASSOCIATION The second meeting of the American Metric Association was held in Pittsburgh in conjunction with the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on December 28 and 29, 1917.
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The sessions on the afternoon of the 28th and the morning of the 29th were held in conjunction with the Section on Social and Economic Science of the A. A. A. S. and a t these sittings papers on standardization were read by J. W. McEachren of the Crane Company, Chicago, and by F. 0. Wells of the Greenfield Tap & Die Co., Greenfield, Mass. In his paper, Mr. Wells pointed out that he employed 1700 hands and that he calculated that he would save $IOO,OOO by the introduction of the metric system. Other papers were read by W. C. Wells, of the PanAmerican Union, who discussed measures of volume in metric and other measurements, and by H. T. Wade who pointed out the importance of the metric system as a means of international standardization. The session held on the afternoon of the 29th was presided over by Dr. John H. Brashear, of Pittsburgh, and was devoted t o reports from President George F. Kunz, Secretary Howard Richards, Jr., and Treasurer A. P. Williams, showing the healthy condition of the association. Fred R. Drake read the report of the executive committee and outlined the activities of the association in the way of publicity and of cooperation with other national bodies. Dr. H. D. Hubbard, of the Bureau of Standards, gave an interesting address in which he pointed out some of the fallacies of anti-metric arguments. In the evening there was held a metric dinner with a menu based on war-time conditions, the calorie value of each viand being expressed in exact units. At the close of the meal impromptu addresses were made, followed by an election of officers resulting as follows: President: G. F. Kunz, of New York. Vice Presidents: William Jay Scheffelin, of New York; E. P. Albrecht, of Philadelphia; and H. V. Amy, of New York. Secretary: Howard Richards, Jr.. of New York. Treasurer: A. P. Williams, of New York.
ANNUAL MEETING TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY, NEW YORK CJTY FEBRUARY 5-7, 1918 The annual meeting of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry will take place in New York City a t the same time as the annual convention of the American Paper and Pulp Association, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel being headquarters for both associations. The program will consist of a symposium on acid sulfite manufacture and a discussion of problems relating to engine sizing. NEW YORK SECTION OF THE SOCIETE DE CHIMIE INDUSTRIELLE Following the presentation of the Perkin Medal to Mr. A. J. Rossi on the evening of January 18th a t the Chemists’ Club in hTewYork City, a New York Section of the SocietC de Chimie Industrielle was organized. The Secretary of the parent organization, Lieutenant R e d Engel, addressed the meeting in terms of grateful appreciation of the cooperation of the American chemists with those of France. He traced interestingly the origin of the new Society. The following officers for the Section were then unanimously elected : President, I,. H. Baekeland ; Vice-president, Jerome Alexander; Secretary, C. A. Doremus; Treasurer, G. F. Kunz; Executive Committee, Charles Baskerville, H. Blum, M. T. Bogert, C. F. Chandler, Ellwood Hendrick, W. H. Nichols, R. E. Orfila, G. E. Valabreque, E. P. V. Verge, Henri Enrique Viteaux. The constitution and by-laws for the new Section were adopted and after felicitous remarks by Drs. Baekeland, Nichols and Baskerville, the meeting closed with a strong address by Prof. V. Grignard of the French Mission.
