REPORT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING 
393 
No. 13, John A. Miller, Sproul Observatory, Swarthmore College. For measuring 
plates to determine stellar parallaxes, The money has been paid to an assistant. Miss Marie 
S. Bender, who has given all her energy to the measurement, and reduction of plates for de- 
termining parallaxes. She has measured 130 plates of 24 different series, and has computed 
the orientation factor and oriented 122 plates and has discussed eight different series by means 
of graphs. The continuance of the grant is requested. 
No. 11, John E. Mellish. To undertake observations at the Yerkes Observatory. 
Used in 1915-16. Record of award closed. 
No. 12, Herbert C. Wilson, Carleton College, Northfield, Minn. For measuring 
the positions of asteroids on photographic plates. From a letter dated April 7, 1917: "We 
have measured all of our asteroid plates up to the beginning of this year, and all have been 
reduced. We are now going over the reductions thoroughly, checking them. ... It 
will be a couple of months yet before we can get the matter ready for the press." 
A report was received from the Committee on the Henry Draper Fund, 
signed by W. W. Campbell (Chairman), as follows: 
The Committee recommends that a grant of $300 be made to Prof. Joel Stebbins, Director 
of the Observatory of the University of Illinois, in support of his investigations with sensitive 
photometers particularly the photo-electric cell photometer; the grant to be available 
on or before September 1, 1917. It is understood that this grant will be supplemented by 
the appropriation of a sum two or three times as great to be made by the University of Illinois, 
and that the total sum will constitute the salary of a research assistant for Professor Steb- 
bins during the academic year 1917-18. It is expected that all of the assistant's time in the 
first year will be available for the researches in photometry and that after the first year 
the University authorities will assume the full responsibility for the assistant's salary. Pro- 
fessor Stebbins reports that improvements have been made in his photo-electric photometer. 
"A new quartz cell as compared with the cell used at Mount Hamilton (1915) gives twice 
the light effect, with the dark current five times smaller. It is therefore conservative to say 
that the sensibility has been doubled since 1915." 
A report was received from the Committee on the J. Lawrence Smith Fund, 
signed by E. W. Morley (Chairman), stating that the income now available 
for grants is $677.13, and containing the following reports on previous grants: 
No. 3, E. O. HovEY, Curator in geology and paleontology, American Museum of Natural 
History, New York. For the study of certain meteorites. Dr. Hovey has been for some years 
out of the country and has not been reached by ietters. He has suggested the repayment 
of the amount of this grant. 
No. 4, C. C. Trowbridge, Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York. 
To aid in study of luminous trains of meteors. During the last year good progress has been 
made in collecting photographs of drawings of meteor trains. One interesting result obtained 
is that the height of the zone of luminous trains agrees with the heights obtained in recent 
investigations on the auroral zone and is suggestive. 
No. 6, S. A. Mitchell, University of Virginia. To aid in securing observations of paths 
and radiants of meteors and in computing orbits where observations are sufficient. Good 
progress has been made in the work; and the committee are unanimous in recommending a 
further grant of $400. 
Nos. 5 and 7, George P. Merrill, of the U. S. National Museum. To aid in further studies 
of the occurrence of certain elements in meteorites. Upon the work for which he received 
grant No. 5 his final report has been made. This work is in progress. 
A report was received from the Directors of the Wolcott Gibbs Fund, 
signed by C. L. Jackson (Chairman), Edgar F. Smith, and T. W. Richards, 
stating that the accumulated income of the Fund amounted to $356.11 on March 
