ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ASTRONOMY II5 



To construct a satisfactorj- working policy for the Carnegie Insti- 

 tution in its relation to astronomy, as well as to other sciences, is 

 manifestly to be the work of time and experience. In a general 

 way it might appear reasonable that the Institution should endeavor 

 to accomplish distinct results in definite lines rather than to spread 

 itself over the entire range of astronomy in a miscellaneous way 

 w'ithout definite aims. Yet it might be difiicult for the Institution 

 to decide upon the directions in which it could most advantageously 

 throw the weight of its support until experience shall have con- 

 tributed to a solution of the problem. Among the objects it may 

 decide to support at first will be found some that are worthy of con- 

 tinued recognition, both because of their great and obvious impor- 

 tance to the progi'ess of astronomy and because of the efficiency of 

 the particular investigators selected to carry them out. 



Tlie massing of miscellaneous astronomical investigations under 

 a single executive head in a great institution does not commend itself . 

 to my judgment as economical or as likely to bring to the front the 

 kind of power which is necessary for the highest form of research. 

 In such an institution the main current is apt to be sluggish. It is 

 true that such institutions are valuable when they can be controlled, 

 on special occasions, to the exclusive support of some great investi- 

 gation like those upon the planetary system which were carried on 

 in different countries at different times by I^e Verrier and Newcomb, 

 and that the}' may also be valuable for purposes of stellar and plan- 

 etar}' observation as illustrated at Greenwich. Cape of Good Hope, 

 Paris, and Pulkowa. In general, their usefulness is not in propor- 

 tion to the expenditure. 



Furthermore, we have the expressed wishes of Mr. Carnegie in 

 favor of arriving at the promotion of pure scientific investigation, 

 so far as possible, through aid extended to existing institutions. 



Astronomy might be efficiently aided through the maintenance of 

 a new observatory in the southern hemisphere. It is not desirable 

 that this should be an elaborate aft'air — merely an astronomical sta- 

 tion, with a ver}' small permanent staff to sen^e as a convenience or 

 nucleus for expeditions sent out from the United States for special 

 objects from time to time. Such expeditions have been sent from 

 this country already. In 1850 Captain Gillis, of the Navy, was. 

 sent to Santiago de Chile to make observations of the southern stars. 

 The Lick Observatory will shortly send an expedition to measure 

 the motions m the line of sight of southern stars. Dr. Gould's 

 great undertaking for observation of the southern stars, i87i-i884> 

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