TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM — HAZARD 2'15 



Bauer, with the cooperation of most of the leadin^]:; maofneticians 

 of the world. This provided a medium for the interchange of ideas 

 and a forum for the discussion of problems of international import 

 of much greater value than the triennial meetings of the international 

 commission and helped to prej^are the way for more ready acqui- 

 esencc in recommendations of the Commission requiring interna- 

 tional cooperation or agreement. 



The investigations of the nineteenth century had shown that 

 definite conclusions regarding tlie causes of the earth's magnetism 

 and its variations could not be reached imtil more accurate, more 

 detailed, and more widely distributed observations had been made, 

 and the first quarter of the twentieth century has been characterized 

 by almost world-wide activity in the accumulation of observational 

 data. More or less detailed magnetic surveys have been made by 

 nearly every civilized country, new magnetic observatories have been 

 established, instruments and methods of observing have been im- 

 proved, greater homogeneity^ of results has been secured by national 

 and international comparisons of instruments, and a fuller and more 

 prompt publication of results has been the rule. 



In this accumulation of data the United States has played a most 

 important part, and that it has done so is largely the result of the 

 energy and persistence of Dr. Louis A. Bauer. His efforts in 1899, 

 backed by those of Dr. Henry S. Pritchett, at that time superin- 

 tendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, resulted in the appropria- 

 tion of funds necessary for the expansion of the magnetic work of 

 that bureau, so that it became possible to make a general magnetic 

 survey of the country, including the islands under its jurisdiction and 

 parts of Alaska, and to establish and operate five widely separated 

 magnetic observatories. This Avork was planned and the magnetic 

 survey carried well toward completion under his direction. 



Designed primarily to meet the practical needs of the navigator 

 and surveyor, this survey at the same time supplied the data needed 

 for the study of the problems of the earth's magnetism. 



Realizing that only a small portion of the earth's surface is 

 occupied by the civilized nations and that it would be extremely diffi- 

 cult to secure governmental funds for work to be done outside a 

 country's jurisdiction, Bauer presented to the trustees of the Carnegie 

 Institution of Washington a plan for the establishment of a bureau 

 for international magnetic research, including a world magnetic sur- 

 vey to supplement the work being done by other agencies. This plan 

 was approved, and the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the 

 Carnegie Institution of Washington was established in April, 1904. 

 76041—26—17 



