112 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 



Weather Btireau It is possible^ I say, but I do not v*'ish to say 

 more than that it is possible. 



I do not know any greater or more worthy object for the expendi- 

 ture of 5500,000 than the settlenient of this latter great question 

 would be. It is, with our present knowledge, almost a question of 

 money ; but no government is prepared to spend such a siun except 

 for its own interest. This is for the interest of all the people in the 

 whole world, and I entirely concur with the recommendation of its 

 importance from the Chief of the United States Weather Bureau, 

 which I enclose. I should gladly see it undertaken, whoever does it. 



Very truly yours, 



S. P. Langley, 



Secretary. 



The Honorable Charles D. Walcott. 



Appendix B to Report of Committee on Astronomy. 



PROGRESS AND PRESENT STATE OF ASTRONOMY. 



By Lewis Boss. 



Professor E. C. Pickkring, 



Chairman of the Advisor}' Committee on A.stronomy, 



The Carnegie Institution 



Sir: Acting upon the suggestion of the Advi.sory Committee on 

 Astronomy that its individual members submit their views upon 

 various specialties in astronomical research whi^h could not be treated 

 in detail in the general report, 1 beg leave to submit some memo- 

 randa which are suggested by m5' own experience in watching the 

 progress of astronomy. 



As a preface to this, I desire to suggest some views which I regard 

 as of importance in determining the general policy of the Institution 

 toward the support of astronomy. 



The United States already has a large number of observatories 

 for which the provision as to maintenance is notoriously small in re- 

 lation to instrumental plant. There appears, therefore, to be little 

 necessity for the establishment of new observatories or institutions, 

 provided some means can be devised to make better use of those we 

 have. 



