ABSTRACTS 



Authors of scientific papers are requested to see that abstracts, preferably 

 prepared and signed by themselves, are forwarded promptly to the editors. Each 

 of the scientific bureaus in Washington has a representative authorized to for- 

 ward such material to this journal and abstracts of official publications should 

 be transmitted thru the representative of the bureau in which they originate. 

 The abstracts should conform in length and general style to those appearing in 

 this issue. 



ASTRONOMY. — Determination of tiyne, longitude, latitude and azimuth. 

 William Bowie. Special Publication No. 14 of the U. S. Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey, 1913. 



This is the latest issue of a series of manuals prepared by the U. S. 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey for the guidance of the astronomic observer 

 in the field and the computer in the office, in carrying on the geodetic 

 astronomy of the Survej'" in a systematic manner. 



This publication necessarily contains much data that appeared in the 

 fourth edition but there is also much new material, the principal items 

 of which are : The determination of time and longitude, using the transit 

 micrometer; a description of the transit micrometer; determination of 

 time with the vertical circle for use in connection with azimuth obser- 

 vations; a description of the method of observing azimuth coincidently 

 with horizontal directions in primary triangulation; an example of the 

 determination of an azimuth in Alaska with a transit equipped with a 

 transit micrometer; examples of the records and computations in the 

 different classes of work, as actually made at present by the Survey; 

 and statements of the field cost of the different classes of work. 



W. Bowie. 



GEODESY. — The California-Washington Arc of Primary Triangula- 

 tion. A. L. Baldwin. Special Publication No. 13, U. S. Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey, 1913. 

 In the spring of 1903 the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey began the 

 reconnaissance for an arc of primary triangulation to extend from the 

 primary triangulation in northern California to Puget Sound. The 

 work of reconnaissance was not done continuously in any one season, 



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