APPENDIX TO THE SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE TRANSFER OF AS- 

 TRONOMICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS BY TELEGRAPH. 



Letter from Harvard College Observatory, May 2, 18S2, fo Smithsonian 



Institution. 



Dear Sie : The suggestion lias been made to me that discoveries 

 of comets should occasionally be telegraphed from this observatory to 

 Europe by means of the " Science Observer" cipher system. 



I am desirous to avoid any possibility of interference with the work 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, and for this reason I have hitherto 

 avoided making any such announcements of discoveries. The dis- 

 patches have been conliued to statements of elements, ephemerides, 

 and the tirst accurate positions obtained of comets, which would of 

 course be subsequent to the original discovery. If, however, you see no 

 objection to a similar announcement of discoveries in cases where it 

 may be requested, there will be no. difficulty in making it. I should be 

 very glad to have your opinion on the subject. 



Yours respectfully, 

 Edward C. Pickering. 



Letter from Smithsonian Institution, May 4, 1882, to Prof. E. C. Picker- 

 ing, Harvard College Observatory. 



Dear Sir : The Smithsonian Institution does not possess any mo- 

 nopoly of transmitting astronomical information abroad, and it will not 

 interfere in any way with its plans to have you make any communica- 

 tions you may desire in the cipher of the " Science Observer." 



I have not felt at liberty to change the general system of communi- 

 cating astronomical data, as arranged by Professor Peters, to whom 

 the suggestion of this transmission is primarily due. 



Whenever the astronomers of this country agree upon a change of 

 system, it will give me great pleasure to carry it out. 



Very truly yours, 

 Spencer F. Baird. 



Letter from the Science Observer, Boston, December 15, 1882, to the Smitli- 



sonian Institution. 

 Hear Sir : In the matter of comet telegrams, I have the following 

 report to make, I think ought to be made to you. You remember, with- 

 out doubt, that when at Wood's Holl this fall you told me to go ahead 



87 



