26 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXII. No. 549. 



by some trials already made, appears promis- 

 ing, total intensity and dip with an L. C dip 

 circle. The expedition expects to leave San 

 Francisco about the middle of July of this 

 year. [It is gratifying to report that the 

 German government has assured the president 

 of the Carnegie Institution that its Samoan 

 magnetic observatory will be maintained until 

 1909, to assist in the magnetic survey of the 

 Pacific Ocean.] 



B. Land Worlc. — Mr. J. P. Ault, magnetic 

 observer, while temporarily assigned on the 

 coast-survey steamer Baclie, for securing the 

 necessary training in magnetic work on a 

 cruise from Baltimore to Panama, besides 

 taking part in the sea work, has determined 

 the three magnetic elements at the following 

 stations: ISTorfolk (Virginia), Key West and 

 Miami (Florida), Kingston (Jamaica), Colon 

 (Panama), Havana, Mantanzas, Batabano and' 

 Pinar del Rio (all in Cuba) and Valdosta 

 (Georgia). At Plavana comparisons were also 

 made with the instruments of the Colegio de 

 Belen. Thus, most important secular varia- 

 tion and distribution data have been obtained. 



Mr. D. C. Sowers, magnetic observer, ac- 

 companied the new coast-survey steamer 

 Explorer from Baltimore to Porto Rico, de- 

 termined the magnetic elements on land at 

 Norfolk (Virginia), San Juan and Vieques 

 (Porto Rico), and took part in the sea work. 

 He is now engaged in determining the mag- 

 netic elements on various islands of the Lesser 

 Antilles. Mr. G. Heimbrod, surveyor, of 

 Suva, Figi Islands, enters the employ of the 

 department the coming August, as magnetic 

 observer. After assisting Dr. Franz Linke, 

 in charge of the German magnetic observatory 

 at Apia, Samoa, and securing the necessary 

 experience in magnetic and electric work, he 

 will be engaged in determining the magnetic 

 elements on various islands in the South 

 Pacific. 



Definite arrangements are furthermore be- 

 ing perfected for securing in the near future 

 observations along the coasts in Canada, Mex- 

 ico, Central American countries. South Amer- 

 ica and China, while the oceanic survey is 

 progressing. The precise details will be pub- 

 lished later. 



[In connection with above work it has be- 

 come essential to make some experimental 

 investigations at Washington, with the special 

 view of ascertaining the cause of outstanding 

 instrumental differences, and the reliability 

 in the application of corrections derived by 

 comparison, and the changes in the correc- 

 tions for any particular set of instruments 

 when used in various magnetic latitudes. 

 These studies have an important bearing upon 

 the inter-comparison and reduction of ob- 

 servatory standards, as well as the standard- 

 ization and testing of instruments designed 

 for field use.] 



C. Eclipse TForA;. — Besides the cooperation 

 already promised in the proposed magnetic 

 and electric work during the eclipse of August 

 30, 1905, the department will have a station 

 of its own at Palma, Majorca Island. The 

 atmospheric electricity observations will be 

 made by Professors Elster and Geitel and Dr. 

 Harms. It will also 'have one' or two stations 

 in Canada, as may be necessary. Mr. J. E. 

 Burbank, magnetician, will have charge of the 

 work in atmospheric electricity in this coun- 

 try, and with that purpose in view has spent 

 three months in Germany with Professors 

 Wiechert, Elster and Geitel familiarizing 

 himself with methods and perfecting the in- 

 strumental outfit. 



D. Magnetic Distur'hances. — For studying 

 the correlation between solar phenomena and 

 magnetic disturbances, cooperative work has 

 been entered into between the Solar Observa- 

 tory and the department of terrestrial mag- 

 netism of the Carnegie Institution. Two di- 

 rect recording variometers, giving a visible 

 record of the magnetic fluctuations and ring- 

 ing an alarm for disturbances of a certain 

 magnittide, are now being constructed under 

 the direction of Dr. W. G. Cady, research 

 magnetician, in accordance with his design. 



Should the device prove successful, addi- 

 tional instruments will be constructed by the 

 department and supiDlied to institutions ready 

 to cooperate. 



[This is the initial step towards the work- 

 ing out of a general plan for enlisting in 

 magnetic work the cooperation of certain fa- 

 vorably situated and well-established institu- 



