REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OBSERVATORIES 1 1 I 



9. At some time a number of longitudes of stations in the southern 

 hemisphere must be determined with modern precision. 



While not immediately pressing, this work might become press- 

 ing at any moment ; and it could scarcely fail to be of ultimate 

 service if a new station were fixed relatively to (say) the Cape 

 Observatory with accuracy. 



Similar Plans under Consideration . 



I know of no similar plans. On the other hand I have had special 

 reasons for fearing that the total available energy of southern ob- 

 servatories will for the next twenty years be almost completely 

 absorbed by the work of the Astrographic Chart. On this point I 

 have already addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Committee, 

 and perhaps I need not here repeat what I said. 



Location. 



I have made inquiries about 



(a) South America, which would in many ways be suitable, as 

 differing in longitude from existing observatories. For stations of 

 considerable southern latitude the replies have not been favorable. 



(d) South Africa. — I hear very good accounts from Sir David Gill 

 and Mr. Innes of the site selected by the latter for the new observa- 

 tory of the Transvaal. 



(c) Australia. — Mr. Russell gives good accounts of sites near 

 Sydney. Recently I have heard sites near Hobart Town, in Tas- 

 mania, much commended. The climate is said to be beautiful and 

 land so cheap that a large tract could be secured. 



General Plan of the Work Temporary. 



I have already commented upon this point at the beginning of 

 this letter. To keep in view the " accomplishment of a few specific 

 works, the conclusion of which could be foreseen within a limited term 

 of years, ' ' seems to me to be exactly the way to set about the advance- 

 ment of the astronomy of the southern hemisphere, if we may trust 

 previous experience ; and it seems to me further quite probable that 

 there are several men, perhaps many men, of proved capacity and 

 experience, who would find an expedition to the southern hemi- 

 sphere desirable and delightful if it could be undertaken without 

 financial loss and for the completion of a piece of work already car- 

 ried out in the northern hemisphere. I understand that this kind 



