162 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1920. 



orders for supplies and carrying of mail are given in this manner; 

 also telegraphic messages may be communicated by this heliographic 

 method. The merchant in Wenden, who receives the message, car- 

 ries out the supplies and mail to the foot of the trail, 11 miles, by 

 auto. A neighbor, Mr. Ellison, a mining prospector living about 1 

 mile beyond the observing station on Mount Harqua Hala, has three 

 burros which browse about upon the mountain when not in use. On 

 suitable notice, Mr. Ellison, after several hours' search, will bring in 

 his burros and make the trip of 5 miles to the foot of the trail to 

 bring up the supplies and mail. This is done about once in 10 days, 

 so that a single round of communication by letter may be delayed 

 for nearly three weeks en route. 



The water for the establishment is also brought by Mr. Ellison with 

 his burros from his camp a mile distant. It is brought about once 

 in four days, and naturally a great economy in the use of it prevails. 

 Hitherto the observations which have been under the writer's charge, 

 assisted by Mr. F. A. Greeley, have been carried on with a water 

 supply of about 30 gallons a week. This serves for drinking pur- 

 poses, washing the dishes, the washing of clothes, baths, and washing 

 of photographic plates. 



The two observers, besides carrying on the observations and a large 

 portion of the reductions from them, do their own household work, 

 such as the cooking, preparation of meals, washing of dishes, and the 

 washing of clothes. The life is very healthful in that clear, pure air 

 and has many points of pleasure, such as the glorious sunrises and 

 sunsets which are often observed. It is beautiful also to watch the 

 stars from this mountain, which is the highest one for many miles 

 around. For recreation the observers are accustomed to throw the 

 horseshoe, play the graphophone, read books, and to play games, 

 but nearly all of the time from sunrise to bedtime is devoted entirely 

 to the work. 



PRESENT STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION. 



Thus, thanks to Mr. Roebling's generosity, we have now two first- 

 rate solar-radiation observing stations, about 4,000 miles apart, which 

 by rigid economy it is hoped to be able to keep in operation continu- 

 ously for some years to come. In this way a strong basis of solar 

 observations will, it is hoped, be maintained which may be compared 

 hereafter with weather conditions in all parts of the world and serve 

 to establish whether or not measurements of solar variability are 

 essential elements for weather forecasting. Meanwhile, the Gov- 

 ernment weather services of Argentina and Brazil have become so 

 fully impressed with the value of these data that they employ our 

 telegraphic daily reports from Chile regularly in their official fore- 



