Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-06-23
PENDrLJ.U TTONs.

Two members of the party that lately OBJ
served the total eclipse on Caroline Island,
have remained on these islands for the purpose
Of making Investigations respecting the figure
Of the earth. These are Mr.. L. d. Preston
Of the United States Coast and Geodetic Sur.
vey and Ensign 5. J. Brown, who is connected
with the naval observatory at Washington.
These gentlemen went to Lahaina, accom-
panied by Professor Alexander Of the govern.
ment survey. As many readers take an in
terest in the matter, the writer has endeayored,
at the risk Of being deemed scientific, to briefly
explain what is being done.
A question Of much interest in physical
geography, as well as in other branches Of
science, is that Of the true figure Of the earth.
This has long been known to be that Of a
spherod; that is to say, the surface Of the earth
at the poles is much nearer to the terrestrial
center than the same surface at the equator,
and proportionally so in intermediate ATTITUDES.
As matter Of course, the force Of gravity is
less at the equator than in northern or southern
latitude, increasing toward either pole. As
gravity increases, the number of vibrations that
pendulum of given length will make to a
given time also increases by an established
law Thus pendulum that seconds at Paris,
that is to say, makes SO, 400 beats in "a hours,
will at Spitzbergen make, in round numbers,
S6,4So vibrations at the equator, SO, 26o, and
ON these islands about SO, 900 So that q
clock regulated to mean time here in Homo
lulu, and carried up, say to Behring's Straits
would there be found to gain over two minute:
per day, even if placed in a room of exactly oul
temperature.
Ii is from counting these vibrations, at man,
different points, that the figure Of the earth ha
been determined as at present known. In
| siruments for observation have to be made o
the utmost delicacy, and the connections nee
cessary for temperature, and more especially
for the disturbing influences of mountain
masses, require the highest applications o
scientific knowledge. One great field of re
search in this matter has been in India with it
vast extent OF plain and immense hight o
mountain. This country of ours presents al
interesting point of study partly because so ia
removed from any other, partly because so i'm
mensely elevated above the great submarine
plateau Of the Pacihc-our mountain summit
being higher above said plateau than the Him
malaga SUBMITS are above the plains Of India
and partly, again, because Freycinet, betwee
1917 and 1920, occupied station at Lahain
for this very purpose. This station is re-occu
pied by the present observers for the sake {
connecting his series of observations at d
ferent points on the earth with more moder
work.
The latitude and longitude will also be d,
termined with the utmost care in connection wit
the geodetic work OF the Hawaiian Cover
ment Survey, During the coming week, S,
of observations will probably be taken
Honolulu, by the same party. Thos
readers who are scientifically inclined ma
refer to the article d" Pendulums in one Of III
best cyclopedias, as also to works o
" peodesyn -