DEPARTMENT OF TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 311 



July 24 and discussion of the status of work of the pre-war International Mag- 

 netic Commission, the following eight resolutions were passed : 



I. That a committee be appointed to consider the best method of securing an adequate 

 comparison of the magnetic instruments in use in different countries, and to consider as to 

 the best method of measuring the magnetic elements in absolute units. 



II. That the Section of Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity concurs in the resolution 

 of the Meteorological Section that international work in atmospheric electricity should be 

 as far as possible placed under the direction of a committee nominated partly by the Section 

 of Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity and partly by the Section of Meteorology. 



III. That the Section of Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity would welcome coopera- 

 tion with the International Union of Scientific Radio-Telegraphy in the investigation of the 

 electric phenomena of the higher atmosphere. 



IV. That a committee be appointed on the systematic exchange oi" magnetic curves. 



V. That special committees be appointed from time to time for the investigation and 

 report on specific problems in terrestrial magnetism and electricity. 



VI. That the Section of Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity would welcome coopera- 

 tion with the International Astronomical Union in investigating the relationships between 

 solar and terrestrial magnetic and electric phenomena. 



VII. That the ex-officio members of the executive committee be empowered to elect 

 additional members to serve until the next ordinary meeting of the Union. 



VIII. That the executive committee consult with the executive committees of other 

 sections of the Union and report to the general secretary of the Union the amount of funds 

 annuallv required by the section during the period of the present convention. 



The executive committee of the Section of Terrestrial Magnetism and Elec- 

 tricity, on July 25, in order to carry into effect these resolutions, appointed 

 10 committees, the complete composition of which was deferred until the 

 entrance into the Union of other countries. Thus the committee plan of dis- 

 tribution of international researches in terrestrial magnetism and electricity 

 (atmospheric electricity, earth currents, polar lights, radiotelegraphy-strays, 

 etc.), as adopted by the International Astronomical Union, was also followed 

 in section (d) as, in fact, generally in the other sections, as far as they could be 

 organized. 



The objects of the International Geodetic and Geophysical Union are stated 

 in the official version as follows : 



1. To promote the study of problems concerned with the figure and physics of the earth. 



2. To initiate and coordinate researches which depend upon international cooperation 

 and to provide for their scientific discussion and publication. 



3. To facilitate special researches, such as the comparison of instruments used in different 

 countries. 



Some observations of the total solar eclipse on May 29, 1919, at Cape Palmas, Liberia. 

 L. A. Bauer. (Papers presented before the American Astronomical Society 

 at Ann Arbor, September 4, 1919, and before the Philosophical Society of 

 Washington, October 11, 1919). 



The author, assisted by Mr. H. F. Johnston, carried out a general program 

 of observational work, mainly geophysical, in connection with the solar eclipse 

 of May 29, 1919, which was total at the station finally selected, namely, Cape 

 Palmas, Liberia. Although totality was to last at this station about 6^ min- 

 utes, the astronomers avoided this station in view of its being in the rainy belt. 

 However, for the purposes of the expedition of the Department of Terrestrial 

 Magnetism, it did not matter whether clear conditions would be had or not, 

 since the geophysical effect which was primarily to be investigated, namely, 

 the possible effect upon the Earth's magnetic field, would pass through any 

 clouds. However, as it has turned out, for the third time, although certain 

 astronomers at other places were unfortunate, clear conditions were encountered 

 by our party. 



