178 Alaskan Science Conference 



The Appropriation Act: 



"Geophysical Institute, Alaska: For the establishment of a 

 geophysical institute at the University of Alaska, as authorized 

 by the Act of July 31, 1946 (48 U.S.C. 175, 175a), $100,000 to 

 be immediately available and to remain available until ex- 

 pended, and in addition thereto the Public Buildings Adminis- 

 tration is authorized to enter into contracts for this purpose in 

 an amount not exceeding $875,000: Provided, That no part of 

 this appropriation shall become available unless and until title 

 to the land upon which said institute is to be constructed shall 

 have been conveyed to the United States: 



Provided Further, That, notwithstanding the provision of 

 any other law, all buildings and equipment constructed or ac- 

 quired with funds herein appropriated or under authority to 

 contract shall, upon the establishment of the institute, be the 

 property of the United States." 



The Establishment of the Geophysical Institute 



The passage of the Public Laws was soon followed by laying 

 out a practical Geophysical Institute plan. The recommended 

 building plan provided for a three-story specially designed, 

 reinforced concrete structure approximately sixty feet by one 

 hundred twenty feet which would provide laboratory and office 

 space for seismographs, natural illumination records, iono- 

 spheric measuring equipment, magnetographic master pendu- 

 lums for geodetic work, radio wave measuring equipment, 

 spectrohelioscopes, chronographs, auroral cameras and other 

 equipment needed for a comprehensive attack on geophysical 

 phenomena. In addition housing accommodation for the 

 scientists carrying out the various programs was to be provided. 

 The plans further included a well equipped machine shop. 

 The University provided a ten acre tract, bids were let and the 

 construction started in the spring of 1949 and was scheduled 

 for completion in June 1950. 



Stuart L. Seaton, then director of the Geophysical Observa- 

 tory, University of Alaska, was appointed Director of the Geo- 

 physical Institute and took office the day of the cornerstone 



