RECENT PROGRESS IN GEODESY. 
143 
this being about the height of the Washington monument. 
In other words, there is little likelihood that the Clarke 
spheroid of 1866, now used as the standard in this country, 
differs from the spheroid which will most nearly fit this 
country alone by more than one part in 12,000, and there is 
an even chance that it does not differ from it by more than 
one part in 36,000. 
It is reasonably safe to make the same prediction in regard 
to the earth spheroid, or the spheroid which will most nearly 
fit all the measures which may hereafter be made in all 
countries, as has been made above for the spheroid which 
will most nearly fit the United States. 
