DEPARTMENT OF TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM.* 



Louis A. Bauer, Director. 

 GENERAL SUMMARY. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



The closing of the great conflict among nations interested in the 

 advancement of scientific work, especially work of international char- 

 acter and scope, has made it possible for the Department of Terrestrial 

 Magnetism to return, though slowly, to its normal activities. Members 

 of the scientific personnel, both those directly and those indirectly 

 engaged in wanning the war for humanity and science, have gradually 

 resumed their pre-war duties in the Department. However, great 

 difficulties are being encountered, which may be expected to continue 

 for some time to come, in the resumption of the Department's full 

 program of pre-war days, because of the excessively high costs of 

 maintenance and operations. Thus the cost of maintaining the Car- 

 negie in full sea-service will be somewhat more than twice that before 

 the war. The same is true of other portions of the Department's work. 



Unless, therefore, the annual funds heretofore available to the 

 Department are increased considerably, a reduction of the usual pro- 

 gram will be imperative. If the latter step must be taken it will be 

 all the more unfortunate for the cause of international research in 

 geophysics, since we may not look forward confidently to receiving 

 cooperation from the nations, impoverished by the war, to the same 

 extent as in pre-war days. The setback to science for many years to 

 come is one of the most unfortunate results of the great war. 



The facts just stated indicate sufficiently why it has been necessary 

 to proceed slowly with the resumption of observational and investi- 

 gational work. The main endeavor has been to unite, as far as possible, 

 the threads severed by the war, and to bring to a conclusion such 

 researches as had already been under way rather than undertake or 

 begin anything radically new. 



OCEAN MAGNETIC WORK. 



The rapid deterioration of a modem-built wooden vessel while lying 

 idle at port, as the Carnegie was obliged to do after her arrival at 

 Washington in June 1918, decided the Executive Committee of the 

 Institution to authorize in February 1919 the complete overhauling 

 and putting in good repair of the vessel for another cruise of world-wide 

 extent. An additional appropriation for this purpose was accordingly 

 made by the Executive Committee, which funds, supplemented by 

 accumulated Department balances from previous years, sufficed to put 

 the Carnegie in first-class condition for full sea-service. A detailed 

 statement as to alterations and repairs will be found in Commander 

 Ault's report (pp. 284-285). 



♦Address, Thirty-sixth Street and Broad Branch Road, Washington, D. C. 



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