12 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



The second work referred to is the third volume of the re- 

 searches of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. This 

 Results of work and the two previously pubhshed volumes 

 Magnetic Survey in the same series bring down to near the end of 

 of the Earth. ^^^ ^^^^ ^g-^Q ^^le results of the magnetic survey 

 of the earth carried on by this department during the past decade. 

 Thej^ are thus available for immediate use as aids to navigation 

 at a time when few data are accessible from other sources. It 

 should be explained that such promptness in the publication of 

 the results of investigations having dii^ect applications is not 

 customar3^ Their appearance, especially under governmental 

 auspices, is often delayed for decades and in some cases until 

 they are obsolete. Indeed, some branches of science are now 

 overloaded with data so antiquated, so incomplete, or so untrust- 

 worthy that progress may be more rapidly attained by scrapping 

 them and by the adoption of improved methods of procedure in 

 the attainment of new data. It should be explained also that 

 the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism has sought from the 

 outset to avoid the futilities due to delays in publication as well 

 as the dangers that arise from random and unrelated observations. 

 In fact, preliminary results, accurate enough for incorporation in 

 sailing charts, from the ocean surveys of the non-magnetic ship 

 have been forwarded promptly to the principal chart-maldng 

 offices of the world at the end of each cruise or whenever this 

 vessel has made an important jDort. 



The value of these results to navigation is almost as evident 

 as the value of navigation itself. They not only facilitate directlj" 

 the trade and the commerce of the world, but thej^ contribute in 

 a more important degree to the security and the enlightenment 

 of humanit.y. Researches in such fields of endeavor must there- 

 fore be admitted to be humane if they may not be classed, like 

 the Concordance to Keats, among those apparently more highly 

 technical subjects of research called the humanities. It should 

 be understood, however, that furnishing aids to navigation is 

 not the only nor the most important reason for the existence of 

 the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. It is a favorable 

 condition, of course, exemplified in the case of this department to 

 a greater degree than in the case of any other, that the work 

 in question meets with a ready popular appreciation and com- 



