DEPARTMENT OF TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 24'^ 



The magnetic survey of Australia had to be undertaken by us; for, 

 after consultation with the leading investigators and governmental 

 authorities, there was found to be but little prospect that the Common- 

 wealth would be able in the near future to contribute the necessary 

 funds and to organize the necessary personnel. The funds and per- 

 sonnel at the disposal of the Ottawa Observatory and of the Meteoro- 

 logical Service of Canada not being adequate for extensive magnetic- 

 survey work, and there being but little likeUhood that before long 

 matters would be improved, we, accordingly, made ourselves chiefly 

 responsible for the expensive and difficult portions of the general 

 magnetic survey of Canada. Thus were sent out the Department's 

 canoeing expeditions in the wilds of Canada by Messrs. Ault, Edmonds, 

 Stewart, and Wise. 



Other cases might be cited showing the manner in which the Depart- 

 ment has undertaken its work. However, a merely superficial glance 

 over plate 1 will show that the attempt has been made not to dupli- 

 cate work or "to supplant any existing organization, but rather to 

 supplement in the most effective manner possible the work being 

 done." It is believed that it could be proved without much difficulty 

 that instead of the sum-total of available funds for magnetic work to 

 existing organizations, other than the Department, having been 

 diminished during the period 1904-1918, there has been an actual 

 increase. 



Equal care to that shown in the conduct and policy of the magnetic- 

 survey work is being given to the selection of sites for the proposed 

 observatories of the Department. Everyone is familiar with the very 

 unsatisfactory distribution of the present magnetic observatories. 

 More than three-fourths of them are in the Northern Hemisphere, 

 chiefly in Europe, but the number in the Southern Hemisphere totals 

 at present seven. For many years past this unsatisfactory state 

 of matters has been pointed out again and again by leading investi- 

 gators, learned academies, and international associations, but very 

 little has been done in the way of remedy. Three years ago we made a 

 tentative selection of sites for magnetic or cosmo-physical observa- 

 tories, most of which were to be in the Southern Hemisphere. The 

 sites were submitted to various interested persons and their advice 

 and wishes were solicited. A small beginning towards increasing the 

 number of magnetic observatories in the Southern Hemisphere has 

 been made, for (as stated on pages 235-236) a magnetic observa- 

 tory in Southwestern Australia will soon be put in operation by the 

 Department. 



FUNDS. 



While the funds made annually available to the Department of 

 Terrestrial Magnetism by the Trustees of the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington may appear large, they are not as ample in proportion to 



