Apeil 15, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



533 



of astronomical observation and investigation 

 were sometimes not duly appreciated by the 

 trustees and committees supervising educa- 

 tional institutions, and that thus the very pur- 

 pose for which these observatories existed had, 

 in a number of cases, been thwarted ; and, on 

 the other hand, that these observatories, failing 

 to be actively administered, had ceased to be a 

 force in teaching astronomical science. 



These conditions were deemed important 

 enough to require the serious attention of the 

 Conference, but, unfortunately, by the time the 

 subject had been sufficiently discussed the 

 meetings were drawing to a close, and the fol- 

 lowing preamble and resolution, which one of 

 the members expected to present to the Confer- 

 ence, could not formally be laid before it. In 

 lieu thereof the signatures appended were ob- 

 tained by the framer of the resolution in order 

 that the professional opinion of active astrono- 

 mers might still be recorded, and thus the 

 managers of educational institutions having 

 observatories might have a fair basis for 

 remedying a very unfortunate condition. 



The matter having been left in my hands, I 

 have deemed it desirable to publish the preamble 

 and resolution in Science, so as to meet the 

 educational and scientific purposes for which 

 they were drawn and signed by members of 

 the Conference. ^^^^^^ ^ jj^^^_ 



"Whereas, at a number of astronomical ob- 

 servatories connected with American institu- 

 tions of learning the Director of the observatory 

 is obliged, in addition to his work of observing 

 by night and experimenting and making long 

 and intricate computations by day, to devote an 

 unreasonable amount of time to class-room 

 teaching ; and, whereas, this lack of considera- 

 tion for the arduous work of the practical as- 

 tronomer is alike detrimental to science and in- 

 jurious to the highest grade of teaching properly 

 associated with an observatory. 



"Therefore, be it resolved by this conference 

 of astronomers, that it is the unanimous and 

 deliberate opinion of this body that the practical 

 astronomer in charge of an observatory and 

 carrying on both observatory work and teach- 

 ing should not be required to teach classes 

 oftener than five hours per week, and should 



besides be given the greatest freedom in arrang- 

 ing his entire scientific work associated with the 

 observatory." 



Approved by the undersigned. 

 Signed : 

 S. Newcomb, 



Former Director of the Nautical Almanac Of- 

 fice, Washington, D. C. 

 Edward C. Pickering, 



Director of the Harvard College Observatory, 

 Cambridge, Mass. 

 J. M. VanVleck, 



Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy, Wes- 

 leyan University, Middletown, Conn. 

 Wm. Haekness. 



Director of the United States Naval Observatory 

 and Nautical Almanac, Washington, D. C. 

 Geoege E. Hale, 



Director of the Yerkes Observatory, University 

 of Chicago, Williams Bay, Wis. 

 James E. Keeler, 



Director of the Allegheny Observatory, Alle- 

 gheny, Pa. 

 M. B. Snydee, 



Director of the Philadelphia Observatory, Phila- 

 delphia, Pa. 

 H. S. Peitchett, 



Superintendent of the United States Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey, Washington, D. C. 

 H. C. LOED, 



Director of the McMillin Observatory, Columbus, 

 Ohio. 

 Feank W. Veey, 



Formerly of Allegheny Observatory, now of 

 Providence, B. I. 

 Milton Updegeaff, 



Director of the Law's Observatory, Columbia, 

 Mo. 

 John G. Hagen, S. J. 



Director of the Georgetown College Observatory, 

 Washington, D. C. 

 Chaeles Lane Pooe, 



Associate Professor of Astronomy, Johns Hop- 

 kins University, Baltimore, Md. 

 A. S. Flint, 



Assistant Astronomer, Washburn Observatory, 



