The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-02


sun and moon from east 10 west This
counter movement accounts for the differ
cnce between the geographical and mag
netic poles Of the earth.
The molten sea within the earth. Lieut.
Sehusze believed, has It's tides the same
the oceans on the surface ana as they
rise and fan they aci upon the earth in
contrary direction, thus retarding the crust
ia It's eastward sweep. The crust makes
one revolution more than the molten SEA
ana thus another influence appears to dis
turb the magnetic equilibrium. The mag
netic fluctuations are greater in summer
than in winter. But many scientists disa-
gree with Schulze. and so no one is en-
tirely certain Of the phenomenon's cause.
What the Charts Mean.
it IS this secular variation of the needle
which makes IL necessary 20 reconstruct
isosonic charts and change the compasses
ana magnetic bearings on the charts. An
error IN calculation by navigator based
upon magnetic lines that have shifted may
easily cause a wreck, and for this reason
the geodetic ana coast survey issue new
charts at regular and frequent periods, sand
every captain is provided with them.
To property holders the shifting of the
magnetic meridians may mean much. Al
the present time most surveyors base their
calculat ions upon the geographical merid-
ians, but in former times the lines were
based upon the magnetic meridians. From
this arise many discrepancies and a sur
VeyoT, when making a survey OF an ola
property, Is obliged to ascertain the old
calculations in order that his survey may
correspond TO the former one. else he may
make an error that will result in iutus-
tice and perhaps long and costly litiga-
ton. Disputes of this character continu-
ally arise. and the court of last resort is
always the goodetic and coast survey
which is usually able to settle the con-
troversy
The desirability of regular and syste-
matte magnetic surveys was urged early
i'm the century by Humboldt, who said
they should be made every twenty-five
years.
The Men in Charge.
The present survey is under the general
direction of Prof. Henry S. Pritchett, SUI
pernteudent OF the geodetic and coasO sur
Ney. but 1t will be actively directed by
Assistant Superintendent Charles A.
Schott. Mr. Schott has been connected
with the bureau since 1913. and is the lead
ing authority in this country on all sub
jecls connected with terrestrial magnet
ism. His series of essays and tables OF
secular variation, issued annually in three
reports of the geodetic and coast survey
for number of years past are the stand
ard works of the kind AS he has given
his life TO the study of that branch of sci
ence and has been mainly instrumental in
persuading the government TO undertake
the work Of recharting the magnetic me-
ridians, it is certain to be done scientific
ally and thoroughly, and il will be inval-
liable for all time to come.
Closely associated with Mr. Schott in this
ia Dor is Prof. L. A Bauer, chief of the
Bureau of Terrestrial Magnetism Prof.
Bauer is enthusiastic and says the amount
of money that will be saved to landowners
alone by the survey will greatly exceed its
cost.
As a preliminary step toward obtaining
data on land for the survey 118 stations
have been established in the East, and
other stations will be added as they are
required. All observations will be COM
pared with similar observations to be made
in foreign countries.
How ID VIII BE Done.
'oThe United States" says Prof. Bauer.
lin outlining the plans of the survey.
covers as much ground as Europe. or
one-hfteenth of the land area of the globe
-3,6l2,00 square miles. Great Britain had
one station 10 every 1879 square miles: HoI-
land, one for every 40 square miles; if we
decide on one for every 100 square miles
II would require 10000 stations for the
United States. At the rate of 400 stations
year il will take seVenty-flVe years to
complete the work. But ten years is de
sirable. By the end of the year 1910 we
shall have covered 900 stations We will
IISt make magentlc survey of the coun-
try with stations twenty-five or thirty
miles apart, and then add stations in the
magnetically disturbed area"
A central magnetic observatory has been
established near Washington, another VIII
be located in the northwest, another in
Alaska, and one in Honolulu Scientists in
Toronto Havana and Mexico will Coop
crate with the Washington officials ana
Prof William Bullock Clark, state geolo-
gist of Maryland win assist. 1t is believed
SCIENTISTS throughout the United States win
take a lively interest in the survey, and
do all in their power to advance it,
II is a singular fact that of an the civil
lied nations the United States is most
backward in its magnetic Observations AL
most all European governments have es-
tablished magnetic observatories France
has four and is building four more and ia
pan has six. Bat our government has at
last become aroused TO the importance OF
having such permanent stations, and il is
now proposed to establish one in connec-
tion with the Lick observatory In Cali
fornia.