NOVEMBEB 27, 1908] 



SCIENCE 



743 



times, and the slow but migMy influences 

 of denudation and deposition are forever 

 at work. And so, perchance, in some re- 

 mote age the vanished Gondwana Land, the 

 lost Atlantis, may once again arise, the 

 seeds of resurrection even now being sown 

 upon their graves from the endless harvests 

 of pelagic life. 



John Jolt 



REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CON- 

 FERENCE ON ELECTRICAL UNITS 

 AND STANDARDS, 1908 



The report shows that delegates were pres- 

 ent from 21 countries, and also from the 

 following British dependencies, namely, Au- 

 stralia, Canada, India and the Crown 

 Colonies. 



The total number of delegates to the con- 

 ference was 43, and their names are set out in 

 schedule A. The conference and its technical 

 committee each held five sittings. As a result 

 of its deliberations, the conference adopted the 

 resolutions and specifications set out in 

 schedule B, and requested the delegates to lay 

 them before their respective governments with 

 a view to obtaining uniformity in the legisla- 

 tion with regard to electrical units and 

 standards. 



The conference recommends the use of the 

 Weston normal cell as a convenient method of 

 measuring both electromotive force and cur- 

 rent when set up under the conditions spe- 

 cified in schedule C. 



In cases in which it is not desired to set up 

 the standards provided in the resolutions of 

 schedule B, the conference recommends the 

 following as working methods for the realiza- 

 tion of the international ohm, the ampere and 

 the volt: 



1. For the International Ohm. — The use of 

 copies, constructed of suitable material and of 

 suitable form and verified from time to time, 

 of the international ohm, its multiples and 

 sub-multiples. 



2. For the International Ampere. — (o) The 

 measurement of current by the aid of a cur- 

 rent balance standardized by comparison with 

 a silver voltameter; or 



(6) The use of a Weston normal cell whose 

 electromotive force has been determined in 

 terms of the international ohm. and inter- 

 national ampere, and of a resistance of known 

 value in international ohms. 



3. For the International Volt. — (a) A com- 

 parison with the difference of electrical po- 

 tential between the ends of a coil of resistance 

 of known value in international ohms, when 

 carrying a current of known value in inter- 

 national amperes; or 



(6) The use of a Weston normal cell whose 

 electromotive force has been determined in 

 terms of the international ohm and the inter- 

 national ampere. 



The duty of specifying more particularly 

 the conditions under which these methods are 

 to be applied has been assigned to the per- 

 manent commission, and, pending its appoint- 

 ment, to the scientific committee, to be nomi- 

 nated by the president (see schedule D), who 

 will issue a series of notes as appendix to this 

 report. 



The conference has considered the methods 

 that should be recommended to the govern- 

 ments for securing uniform administration in 

 relation to electrical units and standards, and 

 expresses the opinion that the best method of 

 securing uniformity for the future would be 

 by the establishment of an international elec- 

 trical laboratory with the duties of keeping 

 and maintaining international electrical stand- 

 ards. This laboratory to be equipped en- 

 tirely independently of any national labora- 

 tory. 



The conference further recommends that 

 action be taken in accordance with the scheme 

 set out in schedule D. 



SCHEDULE A. — LIST OF COUNTRIES AND DELEGATES 



America (IJnited States).— Dr. S. W. Strat- 

 ton; Dr. Henry S. Carhart; Dr. E. B. Eosa. 



Austria. — Dr. Viktor Edler von Lang; Dr. 

 Ludwig Kusminsky. 



Belgium. — Professor Eric Gerard; M. 

 Clement. 



Brazil. — Mr. L. Weiss. 



Chile. — Don Victor Eastman. 



Colombia. — Don Jorge Eoa. 



Denmark and Sweden. — Professor S. A 

 Arrhenius. 



Ecuador. — Sr. Don Celso Nevares. 



