The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-30
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION
EHL|GHTENING WORLD
It's Work and Plans for Scientific
Research in Many Branches
of Science.
GRANTS BY COMMITTEE
Large Sums of Money Are Given
to Persons Engaged in In
vestigations.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The year book
of the Carnegie Institution, which will be
issued in a few days. makes interesting an
nouncements of the work and plans laid
for scientific research throughout the world
in many different branches of science. 1t
shows that the institution has total assets
of $40. 1850. and a balance on hand in the
treasury on Nov. 10 last of Az. The ad-
ministration expenses included 3d. 27 for
honOrariums and $4,000 for salaries of Off
GERS. The assets comprise 100000 of regis
tered per cent. bonds of the steel corpora
ton and $4,000 each in Northern Pacific
land grant general mortgage fOurs of 1897
and Santa Fe Railroad general fOurs Of 1890,
both in the reserve fund, and an office OUTFIT
at Washington valued at $500. The APP
prOpriations made for the coming year are
100000 for reserve fund, $4,000 for publica-
ton fund.- 10000 for administration, 100000
for grants for larger projects and 100000
for grants for minor researches and $4,000
for special grants. The institution declined
to make any grants in medicine or for pre-
pairing systematic treatises or essays in
logic or philosophy.
The report of the committee on observa-
tories advocates the establishment of an
active astronomical station in the Southern
hemisphere for the reason that there is
needed in certain special lines a greater out
put of astronomical. observations which can
be obtained only in the Southern hem1-
sphere. This, ii is thought may lead to I'M
portant discoveries and, according to the
committee, certainly will fill gaps in knowl-
edge. 1t is urged that the project does not
enter the field of existing organizations and
does not propose TO do anything which is
being done by other agencies. The works OF
observation proposed probably could be con-
cluded within ten or twelve years.
STELLAR KNOWLEDGE LACKING.
1.-The greatest obstacle to a clear view OF
the stellar problem" says the report, sis
the comparative lack of information about
the stars in the far Southern Sky that are
invisible to Northern observers. When sci
entifcally, accurately observed facts con-
corning these have been secured the prob
lem will have received a strong impulse
forward"
The committee also recommends the es-
tablishment of an observing station for
solar investigation at an elevated point
where the atmospheric conditions should be
of exceptional excellence. Mount Wilson, a
few miles east of Los Angeles. is suggested
as the main station for the proposed solar
! observatory. 1t has an altitude OF 5000 feet.
| Mount Whitney, about 40 miles from Mount
! Wilson, with an altitude of about 1900 feet,
! is suggested as the site of an auxiliary sta
/ tiOn for the special observation of heat
| radiations in relation to the solar constant.
/ 1t is stated that after occupation for two
! or three seasons relation with the results
| obtained on Mount Wilson might be estab-
| lished to render the continuance OF
| the auxiliary station unnecessary. The CON-
mittee says that if other agencies could pro-
/ vide for proposed observing stations az
/ Cape of Good Hope and at Sydney the Car
negie institution would do we'll to take the
/ responsibility for one about thirty miles
south OF Santiago de Chilli The investiga-
! tions proposed by the solar observatory re-
! late to the suns radiation, mainly with
| reference to it's effect on the EARTH to the
/ solar constitution, with special reference to
/ the sun a typical star, and 10 the evolu-
/ ton of stars, like the sun, from nebulae.
FOR GEOPHYSICS.
c. r. Van Hise, the institutions adviser
in geophysics, recommends an appropria-
/ ton of 100000 and an annual appropria-
ton of $4,000 for a geophysical laboratory.
The year book embraces a special report
of NJ Labaur. suggesting annual APP
preparation of $4,000 for an international
magnetic bureau.
| T. ID. Seymour, who was commissioned
/ by the institution to make archaeological in
vestigations in Greece and Asia Minor and
| report on the opportunities for research
there, reports that Corinth is exceedingly
/ important; that exploration of the west
! ern end of Crete and of Asia Minor would
! be of real scientific value and that the sites
/ of Antioch, on the Crontes, Daodicea and
Boetian Thebes seem the most promising
/ for a great excavation. At least $5O.OO(
would be required for Antioch and
] Laodicea and less for Thebes.
! Raphael Pumpelfy, who has been making
/ inveStga tons in the TTanScaspian country
! on a commission from the institution, re-
ports that he and his associates have found
/ in Turkestan full confirmation of the state
ments of a long progressive deSSication OF
/ that region which from remote times has
4 turned cultivable lands into deserts and
buried cities in sands. He reports that
/ they have found widely distributed and
small abandoned sites of human occupation
with evidences of great antiquity and that
! archaeological excavations will throw light
on the origins of Western and Eastern
nations and civilizations.
| The grants made year ago are officially
announced for the first time. Most OF
| these have heretofore been printed.