410 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XI. No. 272. 



range, the present facilities of the Ofi&ce 

 are entirely inadequate, although now-a- 

 days potential differences up to 20,000 

 volts and currents of 20,000 amperes are 

 met with in actual practice. 



Provision must also be naade for the cali- 

 bration of Wattmeters and Energy meters. 



The verification of alternating current 

 measuring apparatus requires further facil- 

 ities, and in view of the ever increasing im- 

 portance of alternating current systems, 

 such facilities should be provided without 

 delay. 



The verification of Condensers and Self 

 Induction Standards also merits attention. 



Another question, practically related to 

 electrical measurements, is the photometry 

 of arc and incandescent lamps. 



Preliminary steps have already been taken 

 by the American Institute of Electrical En- 

 gineers, looking forward to the cooperation 

 of the oflBce in the ofi&cial verification of 

 incandescent lamps as secondary photo- 

 metric standards to enable even the mod- 

 erate consumer to procure reliable stand- 

 ards at a reasonable rate. 



The measurement of high and low tem- 

 peratures will also be taken up, a knowledge 

 of the exact thermal conditions under which 

 certain industrial operations are conducted 

 being of the utmost practical consequence. 



There are two most reliable electrical 

 methods based respectively on the varia- 

 tions of electrical resistance and of theriiio- 

 electromotive force with the temperature. 

 Hence, with standards of electromotive 

 force and resistance available, this subject 

 is brought within easy reach. 



No claim of originality is made in what 

 has been accomplished. The magnificent 

 work of the Physico-technical Reichsanstalt 

 at Berlin with its staff of scientific and 

 technical assistants and in its almost un- 

 limited resources has been of the greatest 

 help. It has set such a high standard of 

 excellence that it will require years for 



similar bureaus, which will surely be or- 

 ganized by other governments, to attain. 

 Frank A. Wolff, Jr. 



U. S. Office of Standard 

 Weights and Measoebs. 



TEE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL 

 UNIVERSITY*. 



The sub-committee appointed ISTovember 

 3, 1899, beg leave to submit the following 

 report : 



The resolution of reference to the sub- 

 committee was as follows : 



" That a sub-committee be requested to prepare for 

 consideration by the full committee a detailed plan 

 by which students who have taken a baccalaureate 

 degree, or who have had an equivalent training, may 

 have full and systematic advantage of the opportuni- 

 ties for advanced instruction and research which are 

 now or may hereafter be offered by the Government ; 

 such a plan to include the cooperation with the 

 Smithsonian Institution of the universities willing 

 to accept a share of the responsibility incident thereto. 



" It is understood that the financial administration 

 of this plan should be such that whether or not Gov- 

 ernment aid be given, there shall be no discouragement 

 of private gifts or bequests. 



" It is understood that the scope of this plan should 

 be indicated by the governmental collections and 

 establishments which are now available, or as they 

 may hereafter be increased or developed by the Gov- 

 ernment for its own purposes." 



The undersigned members of the sub- 

 committee have been in active correspon- 

 dence and conference on the matters re- 

 ferred to them. They have made several 

 visits to Washington, and have had the 

 advantage of hearing the views of represen- 

 tative Regents of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion and those of the directors of the sci- 

 entific bureaus of the Government. In 

 particular, they have profited by consulta- 

 tions with representatives of the American 

 Association of Agricultural Colleges and 



* Report of the sub-committee appointed No- 

 vember 3, 1899, to the Committee of the National 

 Educational Association, appointed July 7, 1898, to 

 investigate the entire subject of the establishment of 

 a National University. 



