DEPARTMENT OF TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 253 



two additional lO-mile strips, 1 rod wide, for burying the cables to be 

 used in investigations on earth-currents; the total area of the grant 

 of land is approximately 220 acres. The observatory buildings are 

 now in process of erection under the superintendence of Magnetician 

 W. F. Walhs, assisted by Observer W. C. Parkinson. It is hoped that 

 the observational work may be begun early in 1918. 



Peru. — After considerable search and thorough examination of 

 various regions in Peru, made by Chief Magnetician J. A. Fleming 

 with the assistance of Observer D. M. Wise, a suitable observatory 

 site near Huancayo, about 150 miles east of Lima, in the mountains, 

 at an elevation of 11,000 feet, was found. The final acquirement of 

 the site, as well as the erection of the observatory buildings, had to 

 be postponed to some future date. 



Washington. — Certain experimental work in terrestrial magnetism, 

 atmospheric electricity, and on earth currents, conducted at Wash- 

 ington in connection with the observatory work proposed above, is 

 described on pages 253-255. 



RESEARCH WORK IN WASHINGTON. 

 TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 



Mention has already been made of the publication work in connection 

 with the statement on the ocean magnetic work. The abstracts of 

 papers and investigations, given on pages 269-284, will give further infor- 

 mation under this head. Naturally there has been some curtailment 

 of the regular work of the Department because of the assistance ren- 

 dered by members of the staff to various governmental bureaus and 

 to committees of the National Research Council in connection with 

 problems of defense and research. 



The next volume of the Department's Researches (No. IV), the 

 preparation of which is well under way, is to contain the final results 

 of the magnetic-survey work on land and at sea, 1914-1917. The 

 observed results of the complete magnetic work on land and at sea 

 for 1905-1917 will then have appeared in published form. It is 

 hoped that Volume IV may be issued by the Institution in 1918. 



A subsequent volume (probably No. V) will contain the results of 

 all magnetic observations of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, 

 referred to a common epoch; the construction of new world magnetic 

 charts may then be successfully undertaken, as well as a new analysis 

 of the Earth's magnetic field with its attendant greater problems. 

 Portions of this volume are also under way. 



Those engaged on the investigational and publication work besides 

 the Director are: W. J. Peters, J. A. Fleming, J. P. Ault, H. W. Fisk, 

 C. R. Duvall, and C. C. Ennis. 



