REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, I909. 21 



that these investigations have extended to more than forty different countries. 

 A map of the world showing the places where work has been done, the routes 

 of surveys, explorations, etc., and the different kinds of work accomplisht 

 will be ready for exhibition at the time of the next meeting of the Trustees. 

 The total number of volumes of publications issued directly by the Institution 

 is 141, with an aggregate of about 35,000 pages of printed matter. For the 

 larger departments of investigation there are now provided two astronomical 

 observatories, five laboratories, and one ship. A complete list of the equip- 

 ments of these establishments includes 58 buildings and 8 smaller craft in 

 addition to the ship Carnegie. The total amount of funds appropriated for 

 expenditure to date is $4,320,140, which includes $307,227.03 which have 

 been reverted and afterwards reappropriated. The total amount expended 

 to date is $4,128,697.11. 



The construction of this building, begun in February, 1908, is now nearly 



completed, and it has been occupied since the second week in November of 



^ . . this year. Illustrations showing exterior front views and 



Construction and ■' ° 



Equipment of Admin- plans showing the mterior arrangement of rooms for 

 istration Building. ^^^^ q£ ^^^ ^^^^^ fl^^j-g ^-jj ^^ reproduced in the forth- 

 coming Year Book. It may suffice here, therefore, to state that this building 

 is admirably well adapted to its purposes and that its construction has been 

 exceptionally well carried out by the contractors, Messrs. J. E. and A. L. 

 Pennock, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 



The most important items of equipment for this buildmg are lighting 

 fixtures, furniture, and fireproof shelving for books and manuscripts. Com- 

 plete data for the costs of equipment are not yet available. It may be stated, 

 however, that the total cost of the building and its equipment will fall within 

 the limits of the building fund. 



At the date of the preceding annual report the Department of Meridian 



Astrometry was engaged in the construction of a temporary observatory at 



, ^, San Luis, Argentina. The instrumental equipment for 



Astronomical Observ- , . , . . 1 t-n ,1 i-^i , a ii_ 



atory in Southern this was shipt from the Dudley Observatory, Albany, 



Hemisphere. ^t y., in December, 1908. After safe transportation to 

 San Luis, the constants of the meridian transit, the principal instrument used, 

 were carefully redetermind, proving to the highest order of precision that 

 this instrument suft'erd no injury in transshipment. With this indispensable 

 preliminary investigation completed, the work of stellar observation was be- 

 gun in April, 1909, and is now going on at a rate surpassing any hitherto 

 attaind in this branch of astronomy. 



