I20 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 



have been twice as many. This work is extremely laborious in ex- 

 tent of its details and exacting in the attention it requires to minute 

 and hidden sources of discordance. It has been described as the 

 most severe example of physical investigation in the exact sciences. 

 When the opportunity oifers, such researches might appropriately 

 be assisted by the Carnegie Institution to the great profit of astro- 

 nomical progress. 



In fact, there is no lack of novelty and scientific interest in merid- 

 ian obser\'ations for positions of stars v.'lien they are directed tov\-ard 

 the investigation of special problems which require observations in 

 a special field. In view of the relations of our government to 

 astronomy, it also seems proper that the Carnegie Institution should 

 attempt more in this line than it might under different circumstantes. 

 There is great deficiency of such observations in the southern 

 hemisphere, while for the purposes of astronomy it is important 

 that the southern hemisphere should receive equal attention with 

 the northern. There is especial need of meridian observations in 

 that hemisphere now. Sir David Gill, Astronomer Royal at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, is accomplishing a great amount of meridian 

 observation of a very high grade, and measures lateh/ taken by him 

 seemx to insure still greater and better results in the future. But a 

 single observatory is entirely unable to cope with the situation; and, 

 although much good work may be expected from other observatories 

 .south of the equator, there is pressing need that further provision 

 for meridian observations of all classes should be made. The loca- 

 tion of an observatory for this purpose should be south of the thirtieth 

 parallel. The Harvard Observatory has extended its photometric 

 and photographic patrol to the south pole by means of its station at 

 Arequipa, in Peru. Recently the Lick Observatory has dispatched 

 an expedition to extend its determination of the motion of stars in 

 the line of sight to the brighter stars of the southern skies, That 

 fundamental and secondary meridian observations should be made 

 in supplement to existing forces in that quarter of the world is suf- 

 ficiently obvious to all v^'ho have closely studied the c-onditions of 

 the problem involved. This could be accomplished under a plan re- 

 sembling, with modifications, that which was adopted by Dr. Gould 

 thirty years ago. The United States has no territory in latitudes 

 suited to the establishment of such an observatory, and there is 

 small likelihood that its attention would be favorably enlisted in the 

 consideration of such a plan. Such an observatory migl'.t be a very 

 simple afl^air. It might be purely expeditionary in form, and it 



