718 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLII. No. 1090 



steep ones, the difference in elevation deter- 

 mined in the afternoon is on an average 

 greater than that determined in the forenoon. 



4. On an average, a running during veind 

 gives a greater difference in elevation than 

 one during calm. The amount of this differ- 

 ence is somewhat greater for the steep than 

 for the low grades. 



5. On an average a running when the sky 

 is cloudy gives a larger difference in elevation 

 between two points, on a steep grade, than a 

 running while the sun is shining. For low 

 grades there is practically no difference, on 

 an average, between the runnings under the 

 two conditions. 



6. For steep grades (about 10 meters per 

 kilometer) the probability is that the after- 

 noon running gives, on an average, a result 

 closer to the truth than the forenoon running. 

 The afternoon running should be ended some- 

 time before sundown. The running in wind 

 probably gives results on an average closer to 

 the truth than a running in calm. 



7. While the data in the tables given above 

 make these conclusions justifiable, yet, owing 

 to the fact that there are so many conditions 

 to be considered, it is impracticable to obtain 

 at present any reliable numerical values for 

 the effect of any given atmospheric condition 

 or set of conditions. 



8. It is believed that, other things being 

 equal, the running in the afternoon (if not 

 within about an hour of sunset) gives, on an 

 average, more accurate results than the fore- 

 noon running; also that, other things being 

 equal, a running in wind is more accurate, on 

 an average, than one in calm; and, that other 

 things being equal, a running with a cloudy 

 sky will be more accurate, on an average, than 

 one in sunshine. Hence, the ideal condition 

 would be an afternoon with a moderate wind 

 and a cloudy sky. 



9. It is believed that the mere fact of run- 

 ning backward or forward has no real effect 

 on the result of a running, as the value of 

 B-F may vary in sign for different lines and 

 even for different parts of a single line. 



William Bowie 

 U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 



BESSEY HALL AT THE VNIVESSITY OF 

 NEBRASKA 



Dr. Bessby is gone, but he leaves with us an 

 imperishable memory. He was the first pro- 

 fessor in the natural science group to remain 

 long with the University of Nebraska and to 

 leave an indelible mark upon it. It is fitting 

 that the permanent home of two fundamental 

 natural sciences in the university should be 

 named in his honor. 



The writer believes that he first suggested 

 naming such a building after Dr. Bessey when 

 he penned for the approval page 21 of the bien- 

 nial report of 1911-12. This report contains 

 the sentence: 



The inadequate and dangerous building known 

 as Nebraska Hall should be removed and an ade- 

 quate building called Bessey Hall in honor of Dr. 

 Bessey erected to house the natural sciences. 



Nevertheless when he wrote these words it 

 was then as now the writer's opinion that in 

 general no building built at public expense 

 should be named after the living. Dr. Bessey 

 was great enough so that this exception was 

 planned, but his lamented death prevented the 

 exception being made. Let us now render his 

 memory a special honor by resolving that here- 

 after no building shall be named for any one 

 until his life's work is complete. This is in 

 harmony with the regents' act in deciding that 

 hereafter the title of head dean shall not be 

 awarded. 



Some of the special friends of Dr. Bessey 

 are disappointed that the building is not to 

 be located on a more conspicuous site. To 

 these I would say that Dr. Bessey insisted on 

 only one thing — north light for the use of his 

 microscopes. He was, however, pleased to 

 have the building located away from the noise 

 and dust of heavy traffic. The location as now 

 determined met his critical approval. The 

 building will have north windows along its 

 main side and will be so located that no other 

 university building can by any possibility ob- 

 struct the view. 



The building will have three stories above 

 ground. The basement, not to be used for 

 class-room purposes, will be utilized for lock- 

 ers, toilet rooms, store rooms, constant tem- 



