102 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 



It might not be possible to accomplish all the objects desired b}' a 

 single station, but in such case it would still be desirable to have 

 one observatory as headquarters, and other stations in the most con- 

 venient possible relations with it. 



In selecting a site, clear skies, dry and equable climate, and a fair 

 degree of elevation above the sea level would obviously be desirable, 

 yet accessibility, stability of local government, and cost of living 

 might modify these considerations to some extent. It would be an 

 advantage, perhaps, to have a site where two intervnsible stations, 

 of which one would be at a high altitude, could be maintained. 

 This would be possible in Chile, where the climate is very favorable 

 down to about 35° of south latitude, but where the danger to the 

 fine adjustment of large instruments from earthquakes might be 

 considerable. There would be some advantage in the selection of a 

 point in the interior near Sydney, Australia, where the sky is suffi- 

 cientl)^ clear, the atmosphere dry, and the climate fairly suited to 

 European and American constitutions. If solar observations should 

 be undertaken at the proposed obser\'atory, there would be a unique 

 and obvious advantage for these, as for many other classes of obser- 

 vations, in having an obser\^atory in a longitude differing so much 

 from that of any existing observatory of importance. Many obser- 

 vations of planetary and other phenomena could be made when it is 

 daytime for all the principal northern observatories. One distinct 

 disadvantage of any station in southeastern Australia is found in 

 the hot waves which prevail in the early months of the year. 



South Africa offers a favorable site for the proposed observatory. 

 The civil conditions there may be regarded as somewhat unsettled. 

 The chief observatory of the southern hemisphere is already located 

 there, and it might be regarded as somewhat undesirable that an- 

 other strong observatory should be located near it. 



Orgayiization. — The kind of observatory which we would recom- 

 mend to be established by the Carnegie Institution must necessarily 

 depend upon the amount which would be available for its establish- 

 ment and support. In our ignorance upon this point we are unable 

 to present a definite plan, and we simply venture to offer a few sug- 

 gestions. 



Sums varying from $50,000 to $500,000 for plant could be judi- 

 ciously expended for this observatory. Excellent results might be 

 obtained with an annual maintenance of $20,000; while a much 

 larger amount could be economically expended annually without the 

 least fear that the share of this observatory would be overdone. 



