The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-04
SHAPE OF THE EARTH
Tho Work OF tho Recent Survey by
tho Government
MAKES IT ElSY TO DETERMINE
by che soIontIsts-TheO Correct Lougl.
tuds Ia Now Posslbls-'rho Survey
Runs Along tho 8Oth Parallel From
tho Golden Gate to tho Mouth Of
Chesapeake Bay-A Great Contribu.
tIon TO solonoc.

WASHINGTON, Oct, 9,-The scientific
measurement by tho United staIos
coast and gaodsIic survey Of the dis
tanro from tho Golden Gate at San
Francisco, CAL, to tho mouth OF the
Chesapeake, along the thirty.niuIh par
aloll, has been completed. Tho news
that tho last line OF the last triangle
had been taken in this great work has
been rscsived by General DuIField, the
superintendent Of tho survey, in dis
patch from AIR. William Einbsck, who
has been In charge Of the undertaking
since ils inception in 1873, Every
. cIsntiSt in the world has been waiting
gnxiouIly for this news. It's import.
ance may be Judged from the fact that
upon this. east and west line depends
tile determination Of the precise shape
Of the earth aud the accurate laying Of
lines OF longitude, instead OF tho APP
pTsxEmsts ones that are NOW ia Csc,
This limo will be tho basis for 4 revision
OF the astronomical work In which
accuracy is desired.
Gen. Duileld said to-day to a CORE.
pondOnt; Twelve years ago party Of
surveyors began measuring trlangleI a.
tho same time a. each SidO Of the con.
tinent. Ono started from the mouth Of
the Chesapeake bay aud worked west.
Ward; the other started Rt the Golden
Gate In California, aud came eastward,
They met among tho Colorado noun
talnI at a designated spot on Saturday n
week ago, Rnd tho gGodstic survey was
concluded, AsHoon as tho party reach
cd telCgraphlc station thOy cent mo
tho news which the International Geo
detic Association, now in aeSHon in
Europe, has been awaiting 90 anxiously.
ut will take vet year, In all prOba'
billy, TO make the computations from
the survey and such verIhcationS Of por.
tions OF the work as may bO necessary.
The figures have to DO reduced 10 the
mean sea Lowell. When this 10 done We
will DO able 70 determine the distance
between San Francisco aud the mouth
OF Chesapeake bay within few yards
oil absolute accuracy.
The work has coat something over
Sl5O,O0O. Ono Of tue most practical nd.
vanIaEes will DO that it will enable tho
determination OF distances between
cities and tho heights above the sea level
OF all points along the thirty.hinth par.
allol. Its scientific advantages are much
greater. In fact, this work may be takon
rs the greatest contribution ever made
TO science by government.
'rhe chief object OF the work 10 to de-
termlno tho precise figure Of tho earth.
1t has already been determined by north
aud south lines, but this one which NO
have just comploted 10 the only one Of
any extent running east and west.
There are two or three Of tho north and
south lines Russia has the lonReSt
meridian line ever run, going from the
Black Sea up TO tho northern limits Of
her territory. There 10 one in India run
by England that's next In length. while
tile third was run by England aud
France in con junction from the most
northern point Of Scotland down 10 the
Balearic Islands. From those linoI the
shape OF the earth has been determined
north and south, but /. has been necss.
sary, in order to ascertain the exact
shape, to run similar line cast and
west. Tic United states 10 the only
country that has enough territory east
and west to accomplish this, which will
DO the greatest geodetiC line ever meas.
ursi in tho world.
'MAthomnticiana have figured out
what the shape Of the earth ought to
be. They have worked on the bRAis OF
tho earth in a molten condition. Know.
ing the number Of revolutions and tho
centrifugal force, they could calculate
about what the earlh'S figure should be-.
But the Garth cooled more quickly at
tue poles than at the equator, and did
not tako tho shape tina. the mathemati.
clans had figured on. In order 10 do.
tsrmine what its actual shape wac.
therefore, q perfect Lriaugulated survey
was necessary.
"Whilo the present lines OF lougi.
tude are close enough fot the ordinary
use oil sailors, they are not sufficiently
accurate for scientific work. To detOr.
minoa any astronomical observation ii Ia
necessary to have vertical line in or.
NbI " OulAAH hAt GhuAkls lNuk NeIhlCul
line iI at right Rnglsh to tho tangent to
tho curve OF the earth at that point.
Tho plumb.lins does not give true
vertical line. II Is Affected by outside
influences; at the sea shore BY the fact
that tho lighter water Is on ono side OF
II aud tue heavier laud on tue other,
aud in tho interior oil tue country by
tho mountain massOa on tho ono side
and tho plains on tho other. Tho cor.
rsCtiou OF q plumb.lino is therefore one
oflho most difficult tasks Of physiCs, In
stead Of tue simplest, as an ordinary
observer might think. With this trAuI.
continental Vcod0lic work completed
wO will bc AblO TO supply that vertical
limo go necessary TO all exact astronomi.
cal work.
"lhs whole scientific world will oWO
n debt Of gratitude TO tho United Slala'
government for the energy aud SEili
with which II has accomplished this
great and important undertaking"
Guaranteed cure.