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its construction was the desirability of taking advantage of the exceptionally 

 favorable conditions for the study of the velocity of sound. At 12 M. of each 

 day a time gun is fired which can be distinctly heard at both the Observatory and 

 the University. Although the location of the gun is not precisely in the 

 prolongation of the line joining these two points, the deviation is not great and 

 the necessary reduction can be made with ease. Observations upon the direction 

 and velocity of the wind, the temperature and the humidity of the atmosphere 

 will be made at the time at both stations and the time of the arrival of the sound 

 at each will be recorded on a chronograph. It is expected that in this way a 

 large number of observations upon the transmission of sound under widely 

 varying meteorological conditions will in time be secured, which may contribute 

 somewhat to the solution of a problem of very considerable importance. 

 Although not a question pertaining strictly to meteorology it is one of great 

 interest and it is hoped that a considerable series of results may be ready for the 

 next annual report. 



There is another phenomenon which, although not strictly meteorological, is 

 of such interest and importance to all residents of Tokio, and indeed of Japan, as 

 to demand attention and investigation whenever and wherever possible. Much 

 attention has already been given in this country to the study of the phenomena 

 of earthquakes and a great variety of seismographs have been constructed and 

 used in their observation. Some of these are very complex, being designed to 

 register several of the elements of the phenomenon, while others are more simple 

 in their construction. It is, perhaps, not too much to say that in spite of the 

 efforts already made our knowledge of earthquake phenomena is still very 

 indefinite and uncertain. "While I would not recommend the construction or 

 purchase of any complex registering apparatus for use in the meteorological 

 observatory, I regard it as highly desirable to erect some simple indicator, which 

 may not be liable to get out of order and which, in connection with some of the 

 time cylinders in use, or to be used in the observatory, may indicate the time of 

 the shock, certainly, or with the smallest chance of failure. If we shall succeed 

 in this one determination with unfailing certainty the result will be a contribution 

 of no small value and well worth the trouble and expense which will be rendered 

 necessary. 



