DEPARTMENT OF TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 267 



Watheroo, Western Australia. Arrangements for the erection of the 

 buildings were completed and the work of consti-uction is well under 

 way. 



SOUTH AMERICA. 



In the latter part of September 1916, Observers D. M. Wise and Allen 

 Sterling left Washington for the west coast of South America, to investi- 

 gate several regions with respect to their availabiUty for the location of 

 a magnetic observatory. Stops were made en route at Havana (Cuba) , 

 Colon, Tumaco (Colombia) , and at 3 stations in Ecuador — Guayaquil, 

 Riobamba, and Quito. At each of these points C. I. W. repeat stations 

 were occupied. In the interval, December 1916 to February 1917, ob- 

 servations were made at repeat stations in the neighborhood of Callao, 

 Lima, MoUendo, and Arequipa. At the last-named place a series of 

 comparisons between the observers' two instiTimental outfits was made, 

 after which Mr. Sterling proceeded southward into Chile. In FebiTiary 

 Mr. J. A. Fleming, Chief of the Observatory Division, assumed charge 

 of the party and took up more in detail the investigation of various 

 possible locations for a magnetic observatory. The regions inland from 

 Callao, Pisco, and Mollendo were examined, in the last case going as far 

 as the region about Lake Titicaca. After a careful study of the con- 

 ditions in these various regions, a satisfactory location was found near 

 Huancayo, in the Department of Junin. This is about 210 miles by 

 rail from Lima, approximately 60 miles southeast of Oroya, and lying 

 at an altitude of about 11,000 feet above the sea. After making the 

 selection of the site Mr. Fleming returned to Washington, in May 1917. 

 It was decided to postpone to a future time the acquirement of the site 

 and the constmction of the observatory buildings. 



Mr. Sterhng had been detached from the party in February 1917, 

 and proceeded to Chile, going as far south as Coronel, where he arrived 

 April 23, 1917, and reoccupied the station established by the Carnegie 

 party in 1912. In all he had occupied 18 stations, 7 of which were 

 C. I. W. repeat stations first established in 1912 and 1913. He had been 

 able to make this trip southward almost entirely by rail, the inland 

 route being possible over the lines of the Longitudinal Railway of Chile. 

 From Coronel he returned to Antofagasta, and proceeded from there 

 to La Paz, Bolivia, by rail, occupying repeat stations at Uyuni and La 

 Paz. Leaving La Paz July 2, 1917, Mr. Sterhng went by automobile 

 to Achacache, from there to Sorata, and to Huanay, at the headwaters 

 of the Beni River. From this point his itinerary included a descent of 

 the Beni River, which he successfully accomplished, arriving at Riber- 

 alta on September 26. The proposed trip up the Madre do Dios had 

 to be abandoned as impracticable, so Mr. Sterling ascended the 

 Mamore as far as possible, and finally proceeded down the Madeira 

 to Manaos, Brazil, where he arrived the end of October 1917. 



