2CO 



SCIENCE. 



appointment is made from civil life, it is likely that 

 tne men of great and acknowledged ability then 

 named, while devoting their attention to the many 

 troublesome details incident to the management of 

 a large body of men, — would deprive science of the 

 benefits to be derived from minds which have been 

 engaged for a lifetime upon one branch of re- 

 search. 



The best interests, both of the people, who pay 

 for the bureau, of the army, to which it is a school 

 of instruction, and of science, which looks to it for 

 a thorough reorganization of its old methods (which 

 were often clumsy and antiquated) and for a de- 

 cided step in the direction of investigation and re- 

 search,— would probably be most surely advanced 

 by the appointment of one of the accomplished 

 Officers of Engineers named above. Each of these 

 gentlemen is entirely competent to administer the 

 complicated business of the office, as each of them 

 commanded, during the war, a brigade, division, 

 corps, or even army, and as each of them since the 

 war has been engaged in work where strictly scien- 

 tific ability is required. Each of them has shown 

 in both capacities marked strength, and the appoint- 

 ment could not go wrong if made from their num- 

 ber. 



It is not the purpose of this article to advance the 

 personal claims of any one, but to point out the 

 direction in which, after careful thought, it seems 

 the signal service may be led to the maximum of 

 usefulness and efficiency, both to the people and to 

 science. 



TO ASTRONOMERS. 



The value of the work performed by the astrono- 

 mers of the United States is now fully recognized, 

 and has become an important factor in the progress 

 of astronomy. They have at their command some 

 of the finest instruments that have been produced, 

 while their power to make good use of them is tes- 

 tified by the brilliant discoveries which they have 

 recently made, forming most important records 

 in the annals of the science. 



We are glad to find that the publication of this 

 journal meets an important want which is ad- 

 mitted to exist by astronomers, viz., a ready means 

 of communication. We have received letters from 

 Mr. Burnham, of Chicago, and from others, on this 

 subject, and to-day Mr. Swift, of Rochester, makes 

 the following statement, in a letter to us, enclosing 

 a valuable astronomical paper : 



" Of course you arc aware that there is not, in 

 this country, a single journal devoted exclusively to 



astronomy ; and for ephemerides of comets we have 

 to depend on the Astr. Nachr., but as it is printed 

 in German no amateur takes it. Now if you 

 would give a prompt ephemeris of all comets so 

 that amateurs can ascertain where they are, or if 

 on the discovery of every new comet a special 

 circular be sent immediately to each subscriber 

 announcing it and giving position, direction and 

 rate of motion, and if everybody knew they could 

 and would be thus informed, hundreds would take 

 it ["Science"]. It would be a great satisfaction 

 for them to know that they are to be kept weekly 

 posted on a subject not mentioned by a single 

 weekly publication on this continent." 



" It is a great consolation to know that there is no 

 comet in the sky, for it relieves him of all suspense, 

 and it is equally so to be told, at so cheap a rate, 

 where it is and all about it. I could immediately 

 notify you of all discovered by me, or telegraphed 

 to me, from the Smithsonian Institution. I shall be 

 pleased to call the attention of my friends, both 

 here and elsewhere, to your Journal, to increase 

 its circulation that it may be liberally sustained." 



In regard to the above letter, we beg to announce 

 that it will be our aim in the future to comply with 

 the suggestions so ably expressed, and indeed have 

 partially anticipated them. 



We have, by courtesy of a distinguished member 

 of the Naval Observatory at Washington, arranged 

 for a weekly report compiled from their library by 

 a gentleman perfectly familiar with practical astron- 

 omy, and in connection with the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution and all astronomers at Washington. This 

 will embrace a resume of both foreign and home 

 literature, and especially will give immediate notice 

 of astronomical information received at that estab- 

 lishment. 



Professor Asaph Hall has recently furnished us 

 with two communications, and we trust will in the 

 future continue to favor us with notes. Professor 

 Edward S. Holden will also occasionally give us 

 the benefit of information coming within his knowl- 

 edge. Professor Stone, of the Cincinnati Observa- 

 tory, has already placed us under many obligations 

 for constant communications, and up to date is one 

 of our most esteemed correspondents. Professor 

 Burnham, of Chicago, has also engaged to give us 

 astronomical information in his special department, 

 and is now only delayed, by the condition of the at- 

 mosphere, from making some important observa- 

 tions with the great Dearborn Equatorial, to be pub- 

 lished in "Science." Professor Swift, of Rochester, 

 as his letter states, will communicate to us immedi- 

 ate notice of results obtained with his new and 



