July 13, 18S3.] 



SCIENCE. 



59 



to the establishmeut of two observing stations in high 

 northern latitudes. Observations, especially of mete- 

 orology and magnetism, were to be undertaken; and 

 it was arranged to carry on these observations under 

 the joint auspices of the signal-service and coast 

 and geodetic survey. The executive man.-igement 

 of these stations, the selection of observers, etc., were 

 put under the direction of the chief signal-officer. 

 The coast-survey co-operated by furnishing such mag- 

 netic instruments as were on hand, and by training, 

 during tlie short time available for their work, the mag- 

 netic observers selected by the signal-office. It is to 

 be regretted that there was not time enough to pro- 

 cure suitable differential instruments for the sta- 

 tions. 



Two parties were despatched to the north, — one to 

 Lady Franklin Bay, near the northern end of Green- 

 land, under the charge of Lieut. A. W. Greely ; and 

 the other to Point Barrow, Alaska, under the direc- 

 tion of Lieut. P. H. Ray. Both these parties readied 

 their destination in the fall of ISSl. 



It was the wish of the Intern.ational polar confer- 

 ence that all the northern stations should be occu- 

 pied three years ; and a special effort was to be made 

 to secure a complete and continuous record from 

 August, 18S2, to August, 1SS3. In the spring of 1SS2, 

 additional observers were selected by the signal-office 

 to replace any of the former ones tliat might have 

 become disabled, or to act as auxiliaries, should such 

 be needed. These magnetic observers, like their 

 predecessors, received instruction at the coast-survey 

 -office prior to their departure for the north ; and a 

 set of differential magnetic instruments, hastily con- 

 structed, was sent to Point Barrow. 



The spring of 1SS2 seemed, therefore, a peculiarly 

 favorable tiine to put the Adie magnetograph to 

 work, and to secure at one and the same time the 

 long-desired series of magnetic observations from the 

 ■western coast, and a series wliich would also be avail- 

 able for comparison with those observations made at 

 the International polar conference stations. It was 

 therefore mutually agreed by the signal and coast 

 survey offices to establish a magnetic station at the 

 joint expense of the two offices. In the case of the 

 northern stations, tlie management was intrusted to 

 the signal-office. The expense of the Lady Franklin 

 Bay station was specifically provided for by act of 

 Congress. The expense of the Point Barrow station 

 was to be borne by the signal-service and coast and 

 geodetic survey jointly. In the new station to be 

 «stablisbed in California, and which was to be de- 

 voted to observations of magnetism only, the man- 

 agement was left entirely to tlie coast-survey. 



At first San Diego was suggested as the site of the 

 new station, it being the place on the western coast of 

 the United Slates farthest from the northern stations. 

 A somewhat better location, nearly as far south, was, 

 however, finally selected in Los Angeles, Cal. 



Plans for a building were prepared in Washington, 

 and forwarded to Assistant J. S. Lawson of the coast 

 and geodetic survey, who proceeded to Los Angeles, 

 and superintended the selection of a site, and erec- 

 tion of a building, in June and July, 1S82. 



In July, 1882, the instruments, were shipped to Los 

 Angeles, Cal., in the care of Mr. Werner Suess, a 

 skilful mechanician in the coast-survey, and who had 

 attended to the mounting of the instrument in 1878, 

 and to its packing up after the test trial was com- 

 plete. 



At the same time, the writer was assigned to the 

 charge of the observatory, with instructions to mount 

 and adjust the instrument, determine its constants, 

 and proceed to bring out a continuous record of the 

 changes in the elements of the earth's magnetism. 

 Leaving Washington July 26, he arrived in Los 

 Angeles Aug. 7, 1SS2, where he found Mr. Suess in 

 waiting, and the observatory complete. 



After arranging preliminaries, the work of mount- 

 ing and adjusting the instrument was begun, and 

 pushed forward as rapidly as possible. Observations 

 for the determination of the constants and scale 

 values were m.ade; the compensation of the vertical- 

 force magnet for temperature was made; tempera- 

 ture coefficients were determined; and finally, on 

 Sept. 28, every thing was in readiness, and the first 

 sensitive paper was put upon the cylinders, and the 

 first record made. The first few days were in the 

 nature of a trial. A slight re-adjustment was made 

 on Oct. 13, after which every thing worked satis- 

 factorily. On Oct. 31 the horizontal and vertical 

 force constants were redetermined; and since that 

 date the instrument has continued to work almost 

 perfectly, and to make a complete and continuous 

 record of the changes of all the magnetic ele- 

 ments. 



The observatory is situated in latitude 34° 03' N., 

 longitude 118° 15' W. from Greenwich, and 317 feet 

 above the level of the sea. It is on a rather steep 

 hillside sloping to the south-west in the grounds of 

 the Branch normal school in the city of Los Angeles, 

 exactly one mile, in a direct line, from the centre of 

 the plaza, or park, in the centre of the old town, 

 or about a mile from the centriil business part of 

 the town. Street-cars run within two scjuares of the 

 observatory. It is on adobe soil underlaid by clay, 

 and in the midst of an orange plantation formerly 

 known as Belle Vuc Terrace. 



The observatory is built of redwood fastened with 

 copper nails, is double walled, with an air-space 

 2.5 feet between the walls; which walls are four- 

 teen inches thick, and filled with adobe soil. It 

 is twenty-eight feet long by twenty-one feet wide, 

 and painted white. The entrance to the observatory 

 is on the south side. On the north side is the pho- 

 tographic or dark room, P, where the various photo- 

 graphic processes are carried on. This room is 

 twelve feet long by ten feet wide. The accompany- 

 ing plan will show the arrangement of rooms and 

 instruments. The three magnets are placed, the uni- 

 filar or declinometer, U, to the east, the bifilar or hor- 

 izontal-force iniignetometer, B, to the west, and the 

 vertical-foice magnetometer, V, to the north, of the 

 central driving-clock, C. A picture of the instrument, 

 showing it as a whole, and also showing details, may 

 be found in Gordon's Electricity and magnetism. 

 For illumination, student-lamps burning kerosene-oil 



