Evening star., 1903-07-04
STUDYING SUN SPOTS
Curious Task That Uncle Sam
Has Undertaken.
FIVE NEW STATIONS
RESULTS ARE SURE TO BE OF
PRACTICAL VALUE.
Investigation With Currents, Magnetic
Storms and Kindred
Phenomena.

Copyright. 1sOa by John Elfreth Watkins, jr)
Written for The Evening Star.
To study effects of sun spots upon earth
conditions; to unearth the buried mysteries
of earth currents; to solve the mooted
problems Of the aurora borealis, atmos-
pheric electricity, magnetic storms and
kindred phenomena; to protect the mariner
from the treacherous influences which tam
per with his compass and to rectify land
disputes arising from similar vagaries of
the surveyors needle, such are the func
tions of five little stations of the new De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor lately
scattered over our continental and insular
territory.
Earth Is bathed In fuctuating. vibrating.
pulsating climate beyond the established
ken of the meteorologtst and distinct from
our everyday weather" The mottled
face of old Sol has long been studied by
astronomers. That sun spots are at their
maximum every eleven years is known
That our great central luminary is mag
net that our planet is loadstone poised in
space and magnetiZed by the sun; that
magnetic vibrations are telegraphed from
sun to earth and over parts of the earth
with greater force as sun-spot activity in
creases are theories on which science wants
greater light. The telegrapher at his key
observes the effects of mysterious earth
currents disturbing his wires. The COM
record OF north and SOUTH but Is violently
agitated now and then by magnetic storms
which lure ships from their beaten paths
and break their prows on hidden rocks
Apparently related with such antics Of the
universe are the dashing of lightning from
cloudless skies, the throbbing of occult
currents outward from belching volcanic
craters and the red glow of the aurora In
the northern heavens. This unseen force,
long a terror to primitive man, is still
Sphinx riddle to the savant.
Land and Sea Stations.
For fifteen years. thus covering the next
sun spot cycle these new government OBJ
servatories will do their work. At Chelten-
ham, Md. fourteen miles southeast of
Washington at Baldwin. Kan; at Sitka,
Alaska: on Oahu Island. Hawaii, and on
vieuues Island. east of Porto Rico, the sta
tions have been established under the d.
rection of Prof. o. H. Tittman, superin-
tendent of the coast and geodetic survey.
Floating observatories will supplement the
work upon the two great oceans and the
gulf. Only one institution of the class Of
the land observatorieS-that of the Belgian
government-exists in the world.
These mysterious influences which seem
to be dispatched from sun to earth to
cause magnetic storms. being harnessed
to delicate instruments which feel their
every throb and culver. The magnet is
the sensitive hand in each of these, as
in the compass. In one magnetic bar
Swinging HORIZONTALLY COIstdUlly
the compass needles variation from the
true north and south 1t is In itself q
great compass needle. AS the day pro-
crosses 1t gradually points away from the
astronomical north and south line, then re-
covers this change and starts in the op-
posite direction. 1t is furthest from the
truth at about 8 am. and 1 pm, daily
Its mean or normal direction will constant
ly change from year to year. 1t is es-
tmated that IL Its north end were a mile
long 1t would move its tip to normal
point ninety-two feet from that which 1t
now indicates when free from its daily
changes. Another magnet balanced to
move on q vertical plane-like a see-saw-
measures the magnetic intensity of the
earth. AS this force changes-which 1t
constantly does-the, pull eXerted on the
needle alters. Both of these instruments
are subject TO violent and sudden changes
magnetic storms''-due sometimes to cleo
trio storms, volcanic action earthquakes,
eclipses. etc.
Photograph Records.
All changes are photographed upon paper
by both instruments. The magnet bar bears
little search light, which reflects a sharp
ray of light upon a drum revolving once
in twenty-four hours and carrying with it
sheet of Photographic paper. Wherever
the ray strikes the paper II turns the gela-
tine coating black. and If the magnet were
to stay still 1t would trace straight black
line around It, But inasmuch as the mag
net is always changing the line is irregu-
lar. Other instruments measure the cleo
tric currents passing through the earth.
and still others record the changes In at
mospheric electricity.
The interiors of these buildings are dark.
The delicate instruments are sensitive to
light. The inner apartments must also be
kept at a temperature nearly constant
the year round possible. The magnetic
bars would be affected by changes of tenn
perature, which would alter their true
records. To keep the inner temperature
constant an insulation. such as that used
In Ice houses or refrigerators had to be
provided. The ordinary materials on the
market. such as mineral wool. could not be
used, because containing particles of metal,
which might attract the magnetic needles
hairbreadth or less. Dried sawdust was
decided on and was packed between parti-
tions surrounding the instrument rooms.
Indeed, 1t was a tedious task to design
these stations. In the first place red brick
could not be used for the foundations be-
cause II contains some iron. and iron would
attract the magnets Ten samples of build
ing stone were tested with delicate mag
netio needle and found to be a trifie Sc
ductive In their effect theIeupon. Finally
non-magnetic marble was obtained for
the Maryland station and other satisfac-
tory material for the others. The Alaskan
observatory was set upon posts of charred