•574 EEPORTS OF AMERICAN OBSERVATORIES. 



In this connection it may be said that our library is now the best as- 

 tronomical library in the United States, and is constantly appealed to 

 by persons not connected with the observatory. It is highly desirable 

 that it should be still further increased, and that this valuable collec- 

 tion, which, if destroyed, could hardly be replaced, should be safely 

 lodged in a fire-proof room. 



CIIEONOMETEES. 



There are at the present time in the chronometer room one hundred 

 and ten (110) mean-time chronometers. 



A time-ball on the tower of the Western Union Telegraph Company's 

 main building in New York City is dropped daily at New York, noon 

 (except Sunday), from the chronometer-room. During the year this ball 

 has failed to drop eight times ; three, because wires were out of order 

 at New York ; once, on account of the wire insulation here having been 

 destroyed by lightning; three times, here, because of the mean-time 

 clock having stopped, and the changing of wires while putting in in- 

 struments and telephones; and once, for which no cause could be found. 



At Washington, noon, a time-ball is dropped from the staff on the 

 dome of the observatory, and time-signals are transmitted to all parts 

 of the United States. 



The following paper by Prof. Simon Newcomb, secretary of the 

 Transit of Venus Commission, and charged with the preparation of the 

 report, is herewith appended. 



"The reductions of the Transit of Venus work are in the following 

 state : 



"Part I, containing a general discussion of the observations so far as 

 to deduce equations of condition from them, is ready for the press. 



"Part II, containing the reports of the observers and the observations 

 made at the several stations, is also nearly ready. 



"Part III, containing the discussion of the longitudes of the stations, 

 from occultations, and other sources, is still incomplete and requires 

 some examination from me, which I shall be unable to give it for two or 

 three months to come. 



"Part IV, which should contain the photographic plate-measures, is in 

 the hands of Professor Bareness." 



Location of observatory : Whitestone; (County) Queens; (State) New 

 York. 

 Name of observatory : Willets Point Field Observatoey. 

 Longitude from Washington, east 13 m 04 8 .57 ± 0.14. 

 Latitude, north 40° 47' 20". 

 Authority for latitude and longitude: Observations with zenith tele- 

 scope ; telegraphic time signals from Washington. 



