PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL MAGNETIC BUREAU 209 



The science of terrestrial magnetism is, by its nature, essentially 

 international, for it can be treated effectively only by the cooperation 

 of observers of all nations, stationed on land and sea. 



The erection of an international bureau of the kind proposed, in 

 the United States, would give to these investigations a mighty 

 impulse. 



The program you have worked out seems to be very well prepared 

 in its general outlines. 



vl^ vl' ^If ^1^ bl^ *ly ^1^ 



I shall speak about this matter before the Bureau of Longitudes, 

 which occupied itself with this question some time ago, and I shall 

 communicate to you the result of the discussion of this subject. 



Paris, Jamiary jo, igo2. 



\General L. Bassot, President of the Biireau des Longitudes, to 



Mr. Baiter. ~\ 



[Translation.] 



The Bureau of Longitudes has recently been informed by M. Mas- 

 cart of the project for the organization of an International Magnetic 

 Bureau of the Carnegie Institution. Our association would see with 

 great satisfaction the realization of this project, which concerns ter- 

 restrial and solar physics in as high a degree as it does navigation. 



The ' ' Bureau des Longitudes, ' ' ever since it was founded, has 

 always seconded, as far as its feeble resources allowed, all efforts which 

 would tend to an increase of our knowledge of terrestrial mag- 

 netism. 



vLr sl« «1« -1* •I' ^ ^ 



ij^ if* ^% *J^ rft *I» *I* 



I have the honor to send you the first pages of a general report, 

 now in course of print, which will appear in the "Annals of the 

 Bureau des Longitudes. ' ' You will see that the bureau has taken 

 an initiative analogous to that which is proposed to the Carnegie 

 Institution. 



It was of the opinion, as 3^ou are, that in an enterprise of such 

 proportions one isolated nation would be powerless to bring together, 

 in a sufficiently short time, the elements for a magnetic chart of the 

 globe ; it has also made an appeal to the magnetic and meteorologi- 

 cal observatories of all nations. 



A perusal of this document will show you that the ' ' Bureau des 

 Longitudes de France" is especially prepared, by its methods, its 



