DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY Shortly after the entrance of the United States into the war the problem of the supply of certain minerals essential to war industries became very important. The situation was particularly serious because previously we had depended to a large extent on importation from distant lands. The war produced a scarcity of merchant ships, and the demand for all obtainable ship tonnage for the transportation of men, munitions, food and other war necessaries to Europe became most urgent. It was known that California contained some of these important mineral substances, though before the war little had been done to secure them because they could not be laid down with profit in the industrial centers in competition with the imported material. The extent of our resources was not even roughly known, nor was it estimated what yearly contribution California could make to the necessary industrial supply. Prospectors and miners in general were not familiar with the desired minerals, their appearance, mode of occurrence, characteristics, or the promising localities for their discovery. Following the appointment of G. D. Louderback, Professor of Geology, as Chairman of the Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources of the State Council of Defense, all of his time not demanded by necessary University duties was given to organized systematic investigation of certain California war mineral problems both in the field and in the laboratory. In this work he was aided by E. F. Davis, Instructor in Mineralogy and Geology, F. S. Hudson, Teaching Fellow in Geology and Mineralogy, and N. L. Taliaferro, graduate student. The chief object of investigation this year was manganese. Over one hundred mines and prospects, lying in eighteen counties, have been examined and their nature, probable extent, origin, and availability investigated. The field and laboratory work on this subject led to definite recommendations to the government boards, based on possibilities of production. A brief paper, presenting some of these conclusions, was published by the Mining and Scientific Press on March 30. There was also prepared a tabular report by countries, arranged for quick reference to the various properties examined and their most important characteristics, and a more extensive report on the geology and prospective value of these properties. The latter reports, carrying considerable confidential information for the use of the government, have not been published, but copies have been placed in the hands of the appropriate government bureaus and boards, and of the National Research Council. The department was assured by them that the results and the mode of presentation were very satisfactory and of special value at the present time. A great deal of energy has been expended on work that does not lead to definite reports, but which is believed to be of public value in assisting the development of war minerals. Some of the activities may be outlined as follows. 1. Advising prospectors as to the nature and value of the mineral substances they have found. Hundreds of samples have been examined, both in the field and in the laboratory. In addition, the prospector is advised which minerals are worth following up, how best to do it, etc. 2. Calling the attention of prospectors and others, by letter and personal conference, to materials of special value in the war industries that are likely to occur in the regions in which they are working. 3. A case of California war minerals has been set up in the Geological Museum, especially to illustrate to the prospectors, most of whom are not familiar with the war minerals, the appearance of the different mineral types and different grades of ore, and of the commonly associated rocks. Descriptive labels accompany the specimens, and personal explanation and advice are often given the vis 4. We have sought to learn of conditions in any part of the state that interfere with or prevent the operation of properties, or the marketing of products, with the idea of taking such steps as seem feasible to overcome or obviate such conditions. A number of these cases have been placed in our hands, and several have been successfully remedied. 5. We have sought to engage the coöperation of other agencies in the study of special questions related to war minerals, supplying data and samples to assist such studies. 6. We supply, in so far as we are able, information that may be needed by committees, government departments, or other agencies that are seeking to solve scientific, commercial, or administrative problems affecting or affected by the mineral industry. Requests for such information are continually coming from manq quarters. Recently, plans have been maturing for a more definite basis of coöperation with the United States Bureau of Mines, the United States Geological Survey, and the Mining Department of the University, with all of which we have coöperated in an informal way during the last year. Letters of approval of the work of the department have been received from Mr. S. Paige, Acting Chief Geologist, and Mr. G. O. Smith, Director of Survey, of the United States Geological Survey, from Mr. Edmund Newton, in charge of manganese investigations of the United States Bureau of Mines, and L. H. Duschak, Superintendent of the Berkeley Branch Station, and from Mr. Whitman Cross, Vice-Chairman of Division of Geology and Geography, and J. C. Merriam, Chairman of Division of Geology and Geography of the National Research Council. A. C. Lawson, Professor of Mineralogy and Geology, and Dean of the College of Mining, is a member of the Subcommittee on Geology of the Pacific Coast Research Conference. DEPARTMENT OF HOME ECONOMICS HOUSEHOLD SCIENCE Food Administration Work During the special term of five weeks, May 21 to June 23, 1917, two courses were offered in the Household Science Division of the Home Economics Department: the Red Cross course in Home Dietetics, by Josephine E. Davis, Assistant Professor of Household Science, and Miss Doris Daniels; and an Emergency Normal Course intended to give volunteer leaders of clubs and communities information and training in methods of presentation of the message of food conservation. Agnes F. Morgan, Assistant Professor of Household Science, was in charge. There were registered in the Red Cross course one hundred and fifty women, of whom one hundred and twenty finished the work and received the Red Cross Certificate. Several of these young women have since entered the service as Nurses' Aids. In the Emergency Normal Course there were registered twenty-one well qualified women, of whom seventeen finished the work. Most of these women are now active directors of food conservation work in their own communities. During the Summer Session of 1917, a popular dietetics course largely devoted to problems of food conservation was attended by fifty nurses and forty-seven housewives. On Sunday, July 1, 1917, a Half-Hour Programme on Food Saving was held in the Greek Theatre, under the auspices of this division. Mrs. R. O. Moody, Mr. A. H. Naftzfier and Professor Morgan spoke to a large audience on various phases of the subject Food Experiments and Analyses During the fall term of 1917, Professor Morgan and Edith L. Brown, Laboratory Assistant in Household Science, made a large number of analyses and digestibility experiments on whale meat in the hope of establishing the usefulness as human food of this hitherto wasted material. The senior dietetics class coöperated in this endeavor, as well as in a similar set of experiments upon ostrich meat, samples of which were sent to the department by the British and American Mercantile Company of El Centro. A bulletin on the results of these experiments is contemplated. Public Speaking In October, Professor Morgan met classes of women in Berkeley and Oakland for the purpose of aiding them in public speaking preparatory to the Food Pledge Drive of the last week of October. At Dean Stebbins' request, the housekeepers for the girls' clubs and boarding houses met during November with Professor Morgan to discuss ways and means of obeying the behests of the Food Administration. Since April, 1917, all members of the staff, as well as several of the students, have given frequent talks and demonstrations before women's clubs, schools, churches, and other organizations in the interests of food conservation. War Emergency Bulletins The series of War Emergency Bulletins was begun in November, 1917. The five following have been issued in mimeographed form, and about 800 copies of each distributed: No. 1. Practical Hints on Food Conservation. 5 pages. No. 2. Milk, a Cheap Food at any Price. 4 pages. No. 3. No. 4. The Honor Ration. 3 pages. Suggestions for Instruction in Food Values through No. 5. The Fuel Value of Food in Every Day Terms. 7 pages. |