200 Land Magnetic Observations, 1914-20 



at other times its cost would have been out of all proportion to its advantages. The 

 total distance traveled from the time I left Mr. Wise at Mollendo was about 14,700 

 miles, of which about 4,200 miles was by ocean steamer, 6,000 miles by river steamer, 

 2,500 miles by train, and the remaining 2,000 miles by raft, canoe, walking, and riding. 

 This total gives an average of 253 miles per station. The average field expense was 

 slightly over $65 per station. 



A. Steeling, on Magnetic Work in Chile and Argentina, February to October 1919. 



In accordance with the instructions dated February 15, 1919, I left Washington 

 February 18, 1919, and sailed from New York February 25 on the steamship Ortega, in 

 company with Dr. Edmonds, who was going to establish the Department's magnetic 

 observatory in Peru. My instrumental equipment consisted of theodolite-magnetometer 

 No. 16, dip circle No. 242 (with dip needles 1, 2, 5, and 6, and intensity needles 3 and 4 

 for emergency use as dip needles), tripod, observing tent, one pocket chronometer, 3 

 watches, camera, tape, pocket compass, instrument trunk-cases, and other accessories. 



Soon after my arrival at Valparaiso in March 1919, it became apparent that in 

 view of the advancing season it would be best to proceed south to Punta Arenas and 

 thence work northward in Patagonia, rather than to proceed south from Valparaiso 

 as originally planned. Accordingly, after reoccupying Department stations at Santiago 

 and Puerto Montt, I sailed south March 30 through the inland channels of southern 

 Chile. The trip was interesting and very scenic, but heavy clouds and rain generally 

 obstructed the view and made good photographs impossible. 



The 1913 station of the Argentine Meteorological Service at Punta Arenas was 

 occupied, and a side trip by automobile was made to Ultima Esperanza, about 175 

 miles northwest, on the Chilean side of the border (see views 3 and 6 of Plate 6). Return- 

 ing to Punta Arenas, after some difficulty I was able to arrange for transportation by 

 automobile to Gallegos, Argentina, a point on the Atlantic side very nearly due east of 

 Ultima Esperanza. In this way I was able to secure a much better distribution than I 

 could make by depending on water transportation. It was a pleasant surprise to find 

 the roads of this part of Patagonia so well adapted to automobile travel. As local con- 

 ditions did not permit making an excursion inland at Gallegos, I again made use of the 

 automobile as far north as Santa Cruz whence I went to San Julian by steamer, 

 arriving April 28. 



A plateau sharply divides the climatic zones between Gallegos and Santa Cruz. 

 Fortunately, work was completed in the severe Gallegos region and the plateau was 

 crossed before the snows fell. There are fair roads for automobiles on the Santa Cruz 

 side, when dry, but unprecedented rains precluded any trips and held me at San Julian 

 until I finally left on the steamer for Puerto Deseado and arrived May 25. 



At Puerto Deseado, I secured the permits and made other requisite arrangements 

 for observations during the total solar eclipse of May 29. By June 5, having finished, 

 computed, and mailed the eclipse observations, I went by rail to Las Heras, and thence 

 about 100 miles to Kilometro 163 of the Comodoro Rivadavia Railway by automobile, 

 occupying stations at Las Heras, Las Mesetas, and Kilometro 163. Arriving at Comodoro 

 Rivadavia June 13, I reoccupied the Argentine Meteorological Office station of 1913, and 

 on June 16 caught the steamer for Puerto Madryn. Stations were occupied at Madryn 

 and Dolavon, after which I proceeded to Buenos Aires by sea, arriving July 4. 



After cable correspondence with the Office at Washington, definite plans were made 

 for the remainder of my trip. These contemplated a series of trips by rail and automobile 

 to parts of Argentina, generally south and southwest of Buenos Aires, for the purpose 

 of extending the series of inoccupations, for secular variation, of stations of the Argentine 

 Meteorological Office which had been made by members of the Carnegie party in 1917. 



