SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 17 
and effect or of concurrent phenomena assignable to the same 
cause, 
Following the investigations of De La Rue and Stewart in 
their efforts to attribute the cause of sun-spots to the joint in- 
fluence of various planets in the solar system, Prof. John H. 
Tice, Superintendent of Public Schools, of St. Louis, Mo., in 
1862 took up this line or research, with the hope of discovering 
the cause of the 1l-vear sun-spot period and also of extending 
the inquiry to see whether there might be a similar periodicity 
in telluris and atmospheric disturbances. In other words, his 
hypothesis was that the same great cause lay behind sun-spots, 
magnetic and electrical disturbances, earthquakes, volcanic 
eruptions, hurricanes, tornadoes and atmospheric disturbances 
of all kinds. 
This cause he assigned to the equinoctial disturbance proceed- 
ing from the various planets of the solar system. After an in- 
vestigation extending through 12 years Prof. Tice, in 1875, pub- 
lished a treatise on Metrology, setting forth his theory and the 
results of his observation andresearch. This treatise, while 
challenging respectful consideration, is not presented in such a 
logical and well-disgested manner as to be considered conyin- 
cine testimony in support of his theory. 
Therefore. It is a proper line of scientific inquiry to pursue 
this investigation, and ascertain, if possible, (a) Whether sun- 
spots are attributable to equinoctial disturbances in the several 
planets separately or jointly; (b) Whether there is a periodicity 
in earthquakes, voleanic eruptions, hurricanes, tornadoes and 
other disturbances, concurrent with the periodicity in sun-spots 
and magnetie and electrical phenomena. 
In the year 1890 I obtained Prof. Tice’s work on Metrology 
and was so much impressed with the theory therein set forth 
that, from data relative to the equinoxes of several planets, I 
prepared a chart showing the respective occurrences of such 
equinoxes from 1890 to 1902. By ecaleulating the electro-mag- 
netic intensity of the solar system for various years during this 
period it appeared that the year 1902 should bring disturbances 
of a pronounced character and that the year 1906 should be 
very extraordinary in this respect. In a paper read before the 
Teacher’s Institute of Los Angeles, December 22nd, 1892, I 
gave an outline of the Tice theory, and made the following pre- 
dictions : 
‘““We may not expect to be entirely through with our series 
of extraordinary disturbances (those which occured during the 
years 1891-1892) until about the end of the year 1896. There 
will be another period of storms and earthquakes, but not so 
violent or lone continued as that we are now passing through, 
from 1901 to 1903 when Jupiter will have another equinox. 
