I02 CARNKGIE INvSTlTUTION 



It might not be possible to accomplish all the objects desired by a 

 single station, but in such case it would still be desirable to have 

 one observatory as headquarters, and other stations in the mosi con- 

 venient possible relations with it. 



In selecting a site, clear skies, dry and equable climate, and a fair 

 degree of elevation above the sea level would ob\acusly l:>e desirable, 

 yet accessibility, stability of local goveiTiment, and cost of living 

 might modify these considerations to some extent. It would be an 

 advantage, perhaps, to have a site where two mtervisibie stations, 

 of which one v/ould be at a high altitude, could be ruaintained. 

 This would be possible in Chile, where the climate is ver>- favorable 

 down to about 35" of south latitade, but xvhere the danger to the 

 fine adjustment of large instruments froiii earthquakes might be 

 considerable. There would be some advantage in the selection of a 

 point in the interior near Sydney, Australia, where the sky is suffi- 

 ciently clear, the atmosphere dry. and the climate fairly suited to 

 European and American constitutions. If solar observations should 

 be undertaken at the proposed observatory . there would be a unique 

 and obvious advantage for these, as for man^/ other classes of obser- 

 vations, in having an observatory In a longitude diitering so much 

 from that of any existing obsers^atory of impoitarice. Many obser- 

 vations of planetar;v' and other phenomena could be made when it is 

 daytime for all the principal northern observatories. One distinct 

 disadvantage of any station in southeastern Australia is found in 

 the hot waves which prevail in the early months of the year. 



South Africa offers a favorable site foi' the proposed obsen'-atory. 

 The civil conditions there may be regarded as somewhat unsettled. 

 The chief observatory of the soiiiheni hemisphere is already located 

 there, and it might be regai'ded as sonsewhat undesirable that au- 

 other strong observatory should be located near it. 



Organization. — The kind of obser^^'atorj' which we would recom- 

 mend to be established by the Carnegie Institution must necessarily 

 depend iipoti the amount which would be available for its establish- 

 ment and support. In our ignorance upon this p^oint we are unable 

 to present a definite plan, and we siniplj' venture to offer a few sug- 

 gestions. 



Sums varying from $50,000 to .^500, oco for plant could be judi- 

 ciously expended for this cbserviuory. Excellent results might be 

 obtained with an annual maintenance of $20,000; while a much 

 larger amount could be economically expendetii annually without the 

 least fear that the share of this observa.tory would be overdone. 



