JANUARY 25, 1901.] 
for a statement whether the interests of 
science required this long extension of the 
are, and the Academy has replied, through 
M. Poincaré, that the arc should be ex- 
tended to 6°, and that the Academy should 
exercise a scientific control of the work 
through a permanent commission, but that 
the actual work on the ground should be 
confided to the Geographic Service of the 
French Army. 
The sentiment of the Association was in 
favor of the prompt execution of this work. 
It was stated that two officers would shortly 
leave for South America to finish all pre- 
liminary preparations, and that three other 
officers and their staff would probably start 
about the last of April, 1901, to take up the 
field work. A: French astronomer is al- 
ready in charge of the observatory at Quito, 
under appointment from the Government 
of Keuador. 
During the discussion of the project for 
a great meridional are in Africa, proposed 
by Sir David Gill, the Astronomer Royal 
at the Cape of Good Hope, I had occasion 
to make the following remarks, in response 
to the request of Professor Darwin for some 
statement from the delegate of the United 
States in reference to the suggestion offered 
by General Bassot, one of the French dele- 
gates, that in America there was an op- 
portunity of measuring an arc of the meri- 
dian from Cape Horn on the south to the 
Arctic Ocean on the north : 
‘Tn response to the request of M. Darwin, I have 
the honor of expressing my appreciation and admira- 
tion of the grand scheme of triangulation proposed by 
Professor Gill, Director of the Observatory of the 
Cape, and take pleasure in stating that the motion 
for its endorsement by the International Geodetic 
Association will receive my earnest support. I will 
present the plan to my government and feel confident 
that it will receive all possible support from the 
geodesists of my country. 
“Tn reference to the suggestion of General Bassot that 
a great meridional are might be measured in America, 
I have to state that the United States is now engaged 
in measuring an arc along the 98th meridian west of 
SCIENCE. 
133 
Greenwich, which will extend entirely across the 
country and cover 23° of latitude. 
“*The details of the condition of this work at this 
time will be found in my report to the Association. 
“This are can be extended south 9° of latitude by 
Mexico, and north by Canada to the limit of ice and 
snow in the Arctic regions, an unknown distance. I 
do not think that my Government is prepared to un- 
dertake any extension of the above scheme at present.’? 
After discussing Sir David Gill’s scheme, 
the Association indicated its approval by a 
unanimous vote. 
When the report on the new measurement 
of the Equatorial Arc (known as the Arc 
of Peru), was before the Association, I took 
occasion to make the following statement : 
“ The delegate on the part of the United States de- 
sires to express, in the most positive manner, admira- 
tion and appreciation of the work already accomplished 
by the French geodesists, as shown in their report on 
the reconnoissance of the Arc of the Meridian of Quito, 
and to extend to them the most cordial congratula- 
tions. 
‘* Feeling the deepest interest in the prosecution of 
the work and in its successful completion, he trusts 
that no serious obstacle will cause delay. 
‘Tts ultimate completion is assured, now that it 
has been undertaken by those who will make any 
necessary sacrifice to add this additional glory to the 
illustrious position already attained by French geode- 
sists. 
‘Tf assistance of any kind is needed to complete 
the work, he hopes that his country will be given 
preference in doing all in its power to supply what- 
ever is demanded by the exigencies of the case.’’ 
Isaac WINSTON. 
U. S. CoAsT AND GEODETIC SURVEY. 
THE ALBANY MEETING OF THE GEOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY OF AMERICA. 
II. 
Stereographic Projection in Map- Construction : 
SAMUEL L. PENFIELD, New Haven, Conn. 
By means of lantern slides and diagrams, 
Professor Penfield illustrated the methods 
of projecting maps of the various parts or 
countries of the globe upon the plane of its 
equator or of any other great circle. The 
methods are those employed by crystallog- 
raphers for the projection of the polar points 
