THE MAGNETIC DECLINATION IN 

 ST. MARYS COUNTY 



BY 

 L. A. BAUER 



Magnetic observations for the purpose of determining the magnetic 

 declination of the needle, or the " variation of the compass," have been 

 made by the Maryland Geological Survey and the United States Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey at the following points within the county. 



TABLE I. 



Magnetic Declixatioxs Observed in St. Mart's County. 



No.l Station. 



Gr'nWich.n^<'"'^"°°iDate Jan. 1, 



I west 1900, west 



Leonardtown 



76 38.1 Sep. 12, 1896 

 " " June 3T, 1900 

 76 44.7 Sep. 11, 1896 



4 43.2; 4 53.1 L. A. Bauer |1896 Sta., C.H. 

 4 54.6 " " Ij. B. Baylor Merici.L.,S.M. 



All values refer to mean of day (24 hours). 



Since January 1, 1900, the value of the magnetic declination has in- 

 creased annually by about three minutes (3'), so that on January 1, 190G, 

 for example, the north end of a compass would bear at the south monu- 

 ment of the Leonardtown meridian line about 5° 11' W., on the average 

 for the day. 



DESCRIPTION OF STATIONS. 



Leonardiown. — The 1896 station was in the southwest corner of the 

 courthouse but has been superseded by the 1900 station, which is the 

 south monument of the meridian line in the courthouse square, 9 feet 

 from the wooden fence on the south side, and 9 feet from west wooden 

 fence. The north monument is about 300 feet to the north of the south 

 monument. 



