The Portland daily press., 1893-07-01
OBSERVING THE AURORA.
One of the Important Objects of Peary's
Expedition.

Some months ago an arrangement was
made between the Arctic explorer, Lieu
tenant Peary and DR.. M. A. Veeder, of
Lyons, N. Y, whereby DR.. Veeder was
to prepare blanks for the observation
and recording of observations of the au-
rora and forward them to leading meter
ologists and astronomers throughout the
civilized world so that the same could be
forwarded to DR.. Veeder at Lyons for
tabulation and comparison with the OBJ
servations taken by Lieutenant Peary in
higher latitudes. In speaking of the
scope and magnitude of this work and
the great gain of scientific information
which will be derived from this method
OF observation DR.. Veeder says:
IAN important feature of the work of
the Arctic expedition under the direc-
ton of Chief Engineer Robert E. Peary
OF the United States navy, which leaves
Philadelphia on the trip northward the
coming week will be the recording of the
observations of the aurora on plan that
will enable comparisons to be made
with similar records from other locali-
ties. The necessary blanks for making
such observations may be obtained of
DR.. M. A. Veeder of Lyons. Lieutenant
Peary will arrange for observations at
Godthaab. Godthaven, Greenland and
Mr.. George Conner of the whaling bark
Canton now on his way northward ex-
poets to record observations on the same
plan and in the immediate vicinity of the
magnetic pole itself near the northern
part of Hudson's Bay at Fort Churchill.
1t is expected that Father Tosi, a mis-
sionary priest in Alaska will cooperate
actively in that locality, where auroras
are more numerous than at any other
points in the world. Commander Chas.
D. Sigsbee, photographer of the United
States navy, has issued orders providing
for the distribution of blanks and instruc-
tions through the photographed offices.
and DR.. Neumyer, of the Deutsche See
warte, will arrange for, their distribution
to seamen in Germany. Mr.. r. III. Scott.
secretary of the meteorological service of
Great Britain and Ireland, has presented
the subject of active cooperation to the
Kew committee of the Royal Society,
who have in charge magnetic and mete-
geological work especially. The United
States ministers to Norway, Sweden
Russia and Denmark have presented the
matter of cooperation to the proper au-
thorities in those countries. Pulkowa
observatory, Russia, which is the largest
in Europe, has already, through their
secretary, provided for observations in
furtherance of the plan of the present re-
search, some of which have already been
forwarded. The observatory at Wash
ington, the Toronto Magnetic and Mete-
geological observatory and Harvard col
lege observatory are actively contribut-
ing to the promotion of the research in
various ways. Indeed it may be said in
general that the interest that is being
manifested both in this country and in
Europe on the part of institutions, socie-
ties and individuals is such as to insure
the success of this feature of the work of
Lieutenant Peary's expedition. It is
true that during the international Polar
expedition of 1882 and 1883 many obser-
vations OF the aurora were made in high
ATTITUDES but no special provisions seem to
have been made for comparison with
those made simultaneously in lower lati-
tude. 1t is now proposed to remedy this
defect and the fact in regard to the local |
distribution of the aurora will be brought
out promises to be of the utmost impor-
lance in many ways. The feature that
will be of the most popular interest will |
undoubtedly be a relation to thunder
storms which it is thought has been dis
covered and which it is supposed |
to verify. For this purpose data respec-
tive to such storms will be secured |
through the regular channels of the |
United States and other weather service |
bureaus who are vitality interested in |
this particular phase of the subject.