The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-06

IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC WORK PRO
JECTED.

We have pleasure in bringing a ques-
ton before the public apart from the
''filthy pool of politics" in which all
are interested and upon which all
should agree. The points may be briefly
stated. The totll eclipse of the sun,
May 6, 1888, induced several Govern
ments to send astronomical parties to
Caroline Island, in the South Pacific, to
observe it. The United States Govern
ment detailed the Hartford to convey a
party to Caroline Island and back The
chief of the party was Professor L. S.
Holden, now President of the University
of California; and Mr.. f. d. Preston OF
the United States Coast Survey was
charged with the duty of determining
the time, latitude by the Zenith tele-
scope method, and of observing the four
contacts. In addition to this he was
charged with the duty of determining
the force of gravity from pendulum OBJ
servations at Caroline Island, and also
at Honolulu and Lahaina on his home
ward voyage. AT Lahaina he deter
mined the latitude to the tenth OF sec
ond by 113 observations on 30 pairs of
stars. His observations for latitude in
Honolulu, in which Professor w. d.
Alexander assisted, confirmed the accu-
racy of Captain Tupman's determine
ton in 1874
The result confirmed Professor Alex
ander's previous belief that there is an
extremely large DETECTION of gravity,
caused by the attraction of the noun
tain masses, of which there are striking
examples in California, Northern India
and the Caucasus Mountains. This was
an extremely interesting and important
scientific question, and Professor Alex
ander proposed that Mr.. Preston should
return at some future time and take a
number of ATTITUDES of precision at our
trig. stations on different sides of the
principal islands, in order to test the
matter. Soon after returning to Wash
ington Mr. Preston went to South
America as assistant to Professor Gould,
the astronomer in the observatory of
Cordova, Argentine Republic. He as
sisted him in challenging and mapping
the stars of the Southern Hemisphere,
until his leayexpf absence for one year
expired, when he returned to the service
OF the Coast Survey. He has since been
chiefly employed in determining longi-
tn les by telegraph, ATTITUDES of pre-
cision, and other delicate astronomical
work.
Mr. Preston has always been DESTROYS
of carrying out the above mentioned
project in these Islands, for which he is
eminently qualified both by training and
experience. He is a graduate of Cor
nell University, and took a special
course in John Hopkins University in
mathematics, and in the Polytechnic
School of Paris, and is a most conscien-
tious and Woodworking officer, as well
as a highly accomplished and modest
gentleman.
When His Excellency Mr.. Aholo and
Professor Alexander were in Washing
ton, the latter gentleman talked over the
project with Professor Hilgard, who was
then at the head OF the United States
Coast Survey. Professor Alexander pro-
posed that the two governments should
in the work; that the United
States Coast Survey should detail Mr..
Preston for it, and furnish the instru-
ments needed, and continue his salary,
while this Government should pay for
and the expenses of the !
party while here. Professor Hilgard |
readily agreed to this, but within
month a change of Administration took
place, and Professor Hilgard was made |
a 'Fscapegoat.
Recently this question was revived by
Professor Alexander, who brought it be-
fore this Government. Its Importance
was appreciated, and if we are correctly
there is little doubt of its being
carried into effect. Mr.. Preston now
writes that the only question is in re-
gard to his salary; that the present
Icting Superintendent of the Coast Sur
icy is willing to give him a furlough and
urnish the instruments, but does not