24 CARNEGID INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



current Year Book. It may suffice here, therefore, to remark that it is a 

 fire-proof building admirably adapted to its purposes and provided with an 

 equipment adequate to the new and difficuh field of research it is designed 

 to occupy. 



The signal success of the brigantine Galilee, chartered from her owners 



in San Francisco by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism in July, 1905, 



and employed in a magnetic survey of the Pacific Ocean 



^^*^neH?Work^^^" "P ^° ^^^^'> -^9°^' ^^^ ^° ^^""^ approval of a recommendation 

 of the Director of that department to construct a ship 

 specially designed for such work. Authorization of this project was voted 

 by the Executive Committee at its meeting of A.pril 21, 1908, and the prepa- 

 ration of a program of requirements of a non-magnetic ship with auxiliary 

 propulsion for submission to a naval architect was immediately begun. On 

 March 11, 1908, Mr. Henry Gielow, of New York City, was retained to 

 prepare the necessary plans and specifications and superintend the construc- 

 tion of this proposed vessel. The novelty of her requirements has necessi- 

 tated much study, and the Institution is fortunate in having enlisted the 

 scientific as well as the professional interest of Mr. Gielow in this enterprise. 

 This vessel will be classified as a yacht and, by vote of the Executive Com- 

 mittee at its meeting of May 12, 1908, she will be called the Carnegie. A 

 description of her design and equipment will be found in the report of the 

 Department of Terrestrial Magnetism in the current Year Book. 



In pursuance of the plans of the Department of Meridian Astrometry, 

 explained in previous reports, for the establishment of a temporary observa- 

 tory in the southern hemisphere. Professor Lewis Boss, 

 Astronomical Observ- Director of this Department, and his chief assistant, 



Hemispher?""*^"'' Professor R. H. Tucker, sailed from New York for 

 Buenos Aires on August 20, 1908. The site chosen 

 for their observatory is San Luis, Argentina, situated on the east Andean 

 plateau, at an altitude of about 2,500 feet, and in a locality favorable for 

 clear nights. It is anticipated that the expedition will be ready to begin 

 work early in 1909, since the instrumental equipment will be drawn from 

 the Dudley Observatory of Albany, New York. 



In conformity with the recommendation of the Executive Committee, 

 approved by the Board of Trustees at the meeting of December 10, 1907, 

 a contract for the construction of an administration build- 

 Administration jj^g QJ-, |-i-,g southeast corner of Sixteenth and P Streets, 

 '"^* northwest, Washington, D. C, was let to INIessrs. J. E. 



and A. L. Pennock, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 8, 1908. 

 The' plans and specifications for this building were prepared by Messrs. 



