138 Generating Economic Cycles 



For example, it seems almost incredible 

 that there should be no wide systematic 

 observation of such an important known 

 electrical effect as earth-currents. "As far 

 as known, there has been but one observ- 

 atory in recent years where systematic 

 earth-current observations have been made, 

 namely, at the Observatio del Ebro, Tortosa, 

 Spain, where a very valuable series has been 

 obtained from 1910-1920." Dr. Bauer, 

 from whom this quotation is made, was 

 compelled to add, "unfortunately the series 

 was interrupted on January 1, 1921, because 

 of defective earth-plates; it is much hoped 

 that the defects will soon be remedied and 

 the series continued." ^ 



(3) The subject has been placed under a kind of 

 scientific taboo. It has been regarded as 

 the special domain of charlatans and as- 

 trologers. 



The biographer of Sir Isaac Newton, Sir 

 David Brewster, illustrates the complacent 

 assurance, if not the arrogance, of an influen- 

 tial school of writers. Kepler had said, "I 

 have seen the state of the atmosphere ahnost 

 uniformly disturbed as often as the planets 

 are in conjunction, and in the other con- 

 figurations so celebrated among astrologers. 



^ Bauer: "Some Results of Recent Earth-Current Observations 

 and Relations with Solar Activity, Terrestrial Magnetism, and At- 

 mospheric Electricity." Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric 

 Electricity, March and June, 1922, p. 2 and p. 2 note 3. 



