198 REPORTS 01' INVESTIGATIONS AND PR0JE;CTS. 



As may be recalled, Mr. Henry J. Gielow, of New York City, had been 

 intrusted with the preparation of the plans and specifications in consultation 

 with the Department ; he was also appointed supervising engineer. 



Mr. W. J. Peters, Chief Magnetic Observer, from February 7 to August 21, 

 1909, was stationed at the shipyard at Brooklyn as the special representative 

 of the Department and placed in charge of the testing of all metals used in 

 the construction of the Carnegie, as regards non-magnetic properties. Owing 

 to the care shown by the contractor and his subcontractors, very little, indeed, 

 of the material submitted had to be rejected. Early in February, 1909, the 

 keel of the vessel was laid, and on June 12 she was successfully launched, in 

 the presence of about 3,500 persons, the vessels in the harbor being gaily 

 decorated and salutes being fired as the vessel gracefully glided into the 

 water. Miss Dorothea Louise Bauer, daughter of the Director, in compli- 

 ance with the invitation from the Executive Committee of the Institution, 

 performed the christening ceremony. After the launching the specially in- 

 vited guests boarded the vessel and partook of refreshments supplied by the 

 contractor. The occasion was a most delightful one, and one long to be 

 remembered. 



August 21 marks another eventful day in the history of the Carnegie, as 

 on that day she was formally turned over to the Director, acting in behalf of 

 the Institution, and entered upon her first cruise. 



Thus in not quite 15 months since the cessation (June i, 1908) of the 

 ocean work begun in the Pacific Ocean on the Galilee, in 1905, a new and 

 special vessel has been built and fully equipped, several of the instruments 

 being of special design and having been constructed in the shop of the De- 

 partment. 



After various tests and trials in Long Island Sound and Gardiners Bay, 

 and some machinery alterations at New London, Connecticut, the Carnegie 

 left the latter place on September 11. Encountering headwinds and calms, 

 she arrived at St. Johns, Newfoundland, on September 25, entering the har- 

 bor with her own power. Here the Director rejoined the vessel, having been 

 obliged to leave her in Long Island Sound to attend the meeting of the 

 British Association for the Advancement of Science. He continued with 

 her to Falmouth, leaving her there on November 2 and then returning to 

 Washington. 



After the completion of the shore work, the Carnegie left St. Johns on 

 October 2, bound for Falmouth. The passage, in general, was rough, west- 

 erly gales being an almost daily experience ; still the trip was accomplished 

 in less than 12 days, the average daily run being 161 nautical miles. Mag- 

 netic observations were secured on every day but one. On October 18 the 

 vessel was "swung" outside of Falmouth Harbor, the results confirming those 

 at Gardiners Bay and proving most satisfactorily that non-magnetic condi- 

 tions have, indeed, been secured at the various positions for the instruments. 



