PROCEEDINGS. 367 
determining the zenith distance of stars that culminate near the 
zenith, to which reference had been made. 
Mr. J. F. Hayford read a paper on The new precise leveling in¬ 
strument of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, with exhibition of it. 
The instrument is very low and stable, the new iron-nickel alloy 
is used, the level-tube is sunk well into the telescope tube, the 
parts are not reversible as formerly, and an auxiliary device with 
mirror is provided by which the left eye reads the position of the 
bubble almost simultaneously with the reading of the rod by the 
right eye. The accuracy and rapidity of work with the instru¬ 
ment are very satisfactory. [Published in U. S. Coast and 
Geodetic Survey Report for 1903, Appendix 3; Engineering 
ISTews, July 2, 1903.] 
Messrs. Gore, Paul, and Radelfinger took part in the dis¬ 
cussions following the papers. 
The report of the Auditing Committee was read and ordered to 
be filed. 
528th Meeting. January 19, 1901. 
President Walcott in the chair. 
Thirty-four persons present. 
Mr. L. A. Fischer read A brief history of the Office of Stand¬ 
ard Weights and Measures. He said the office had grown up 
under the necessity of providing uniform standards for the 
custom-houses. In 1836 copies of these standards were ordered 
furnished to the several states. In 1866 the office was directed 
to supply copies of metric standards, and still later it has been 
charged with verifying polariscopes and instruments for elec¬ 
trical measurements. [Hot published.] 
Mr. A. L. Day gave an account of The history, organization, 
and work of The Physikalische-Technische Anstalt of Berlin. 
The scientific staff numbers 35 and the technical staff over 50; 
the annual expenses are nearly $100,000. [Not published.] 
Mr. S. W. Stratton, by invitation, spoke on The proposed 
standardizing bureau, giving a resume of the plans and of the 
means taken to bring the subject before Congress, and reading 
