DEPARTMENT OF MERIDIAN ASTROMETRY. 171 



(5) Almost the reverse is true of the F type, seeming to indicate that the 

 development of the star's acceleration in or near the galactic plane is slow, 

 not fully maturing until the F type, whereas in higher galactic latitudes the 

 A stars lose their preferential acceleration on passing from the A type to 

 the F type. 



(6) Passing to the K-type stars, very little resemblance to the early mo- 

 tions is left. The motions begin to approximate random motion. 



(7) The effects of the Galaxy are traced even to high latitudes. 



In Astronomical Journal, 632, H. Raymond has published tables giving the 

 mean value of radial cross-motions, on the ellipsoidal theory advanced by 

 Schwarzschild, for the areas used by the Director in his discussion of stellar 

 motions. 



FIREPROOF VAULT. 



The necessity has long been felt for a fireproof vault in which to store the 

 records and the card catalogue. The Executive Committee of the Carnegie 

 Institution of Washington authorized the erection of such a vault out of the 

 funds of the Department and the vault is nearing completion. 



THE STAFF. 



During the indisposition of the Director, Benjamin Boss officiated as acting 

 Director. 



The San Luis reductions of zenith-distance have been in charge of Arthur 

 J. Roy, and the right ascensions in charge of W. B. Varnum. 



H. Raymond has been variously employed upon responsible portions of 

 the work. 



Meade L. Zimmer is in charge of the photometric station in San Luis, 

 assisted by Heroy Jenkins. 



The staff has undergone slight changes during the year. As has already 

 been mentioned, Mr. William Hunt died at San Luis November 19, 191 1, 

 through drowning. Mr. L. Z. Mearns resigned from the Department No- 

 vember 1, 191 1. Mr. S. B. Grant was appointed November 13, 191 1, to fill 

 the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Mearns, but as yet the place 

 left vacant by the death of Mr. Hunt has not been filled. 



In addition, the staff includes seven computers and a varying number of 

 piecework computers. 



