INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF RESEARCH. 123 
Why should it have remained for a purely research organ- 
ization to undertake a problem touching so keenly, as this, 
on even the so-called sordid, purely practical interests of 
Man ? Is it a fortunate fact that Humboldt’s fascinating 
international scheme failed of execution, and that the chief 
brunt of the work is now being borne by a single organiza- 
tion ? It is not for the speaker to attempt to answer. The 
magnetic work ol the Carnegie Institution of Washington 
has embraced, since 1904, a general magnetic survey of the 
Pacific Ocean, and land observations have been made in more 
or less unexplored regions in different parts of the world. 
The ocean magnetic work is to be undertaken next in the 
Atlantic Ocean, in 1909, on a specially built vessel, the first 
of its kind. 
It is believed that an effective scheme of operation has been 
evolved, with the aid of the valuable advice received from 
eminent investigators. Without danger of giving offense 
to any one, it is possible to deal directly with the officials 
concerned, submitting to them our plans and ascertaining 
whether they contemplate doing anything similar, and, if 
so, whether, in case their funds are insufficient, they could 
suggest some friendly basis of cooperation between their 
organization and ours. This plan of action has met with 
entire success thus far. Duplication, overlappings, and possi- 
ble jealousies are all avoided ; and in countries where no 
organization whatever exists to do the work, we are free to 
go ahead and finish the task in less time than it would neces- 
sarily take to get an official action or official consensus of 
opinion from a large scientific body. 
Slow deliberation in terrestrial magnetic work would be 
disastrous, for the prime reason that the phenomena of in- 
vestigation in this field of research are continuously under- 
going change. The time-element in the earth’s magnetism, 
even for a period of a few years, is of such moment as to 
completely mask the fine, hair-splitting points which would 
necessarily and rightly have to he raised on some interna- 
tional mode of action, to say nothing of the painful and 
cumbersome method which would have to be employed to 
