The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12
OBSERVATORY
For KANSAS
United States to Establish One
At Baldwin
TO STUDY SUN SPOTS
And Other Phenomena of the
Heavens
TO STUDY SUN SPOT

Topeka, Kan, July u.-From Washing
ton, John Elfreth Watkins, Jr., sends the
following to the Capital
Baldwin. Douglas county. has been Sc
lected as the location for one Of the five
new government observatories
To study effects of sun spots upon earth
conditions; to unearth the buried mys-
teries of earth currents; to solve the
mooted problems Of the aurora borealis,
atmospheric electricity, magnetic storms
and kindred phenomena ito protect the
mariner from the treacherous infiences
which tamper with his compass and to
rectify land disputes arising from SIM
liar vasaries of the surveyors needle such
are the functions of five little stations of
the new Department of Commerce and
I Laboratory scattered over our continent
| tai and insular territory.
Science has come 10 realize that Mother
Earth Is bathed in a fuctuating. vibrat-
ing, pulsating climate beyond the estab-
lished ken Of the meteoroligist and dis
/ tinct from our everyday weather" The
notified face of old Sol has long been
studied by wastronomers. That sun spots
are at their maximum every eleven years
is known. That our great central lum-
mary is a magnet; that our planet is a
lodestone poised in space and magnetized
/ by the sun; that magnetic vibrations are
7 al L.l
parts of the earth with greater force as
sun-spot activity increases are theories
on which science wants greater light The
telegrapher at his key observes the effects
of mysterious earth currents disturbing
his wires. The compass needle not only
varies every day in its records 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 dsshing of lightning from cloud
less kies the throbbing of occult cur
rents outward from belching volcanic
craters and the red glow of the aurora
nthe northern heavens. This unseen
force long terror TO primitive man, is
still sphinx riddle to the savant
For fifteen years, thus covering the next
sun spot cycle. these new government
observatories will do their work. At
Cheltenham, Nd. fourteen miles south
east of Washington; at Baldwin, Kan;
at Sitka, Alaska; on Oahu Island, Hawaii.
and on Vieques Island, east of Porto
Rico the stations have been established
under the direction of Prof Q. H. Tit
mann. superintendent of the coast and
seodetic survey. Floating observatories
will supplement the work upon the two
great oceans and the buff. Only one in
stitution of this class of the land obser-
vatories-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 a magnetic bar
swinging horizontally constantly meas
ures the compass needles variation from
the true north and south II is in itself
a great compass needle. AS the day pro-
crosses II gradually points away from the
astronomical north and south line. then
recovers this change and starts in the
opposite direction. II is furthest from
the truth al about a. m. and l p m.
daily Its mean or normal direction will
change from year to year. It
is estimated that II fits north end were
mile long 1t would move its tip TO a
normal point ninety-two feet from that
which 1t now indicates when free from
its daily changes. Another magnet bal
anced to move on a vertical plane-like
a see-saw-measures the magnetic inten-
sity Of the earth. AS this force changes
which il constantly does-the pull ex-
erted on the needle alters. Both OF these
instruments are subject TO violent and
sudden changes magnetic storms"-due
sometimes TO electric storms, volcanic ac-
ton. earthquakes. eoIipses. etc.
The interiors Of these buildings are
dark The delicate instruments are SEN
sitive TO light The inner apartments
must also be kept the wear round as pos
sible The magnetic bars would be af-
fected by changes OF temperature. which
would alter the true records. To keep
the inner temperature constant an insu-
lation. such as that used in ioehouses or
ordinary materials on the market. such
as mineral wood. could not &c used. he
cause containing particles of metal. which
might attract the magnetic needles hair
breadth or less. Dried Sawdust was
decided on and was packed between par
titions surrounding the instrument rooms.
Indeed. Il was q tedious task 10 de- {
sign these stations In the first place
red brick could not be used for the :
because IT contains some iron
and iron would attract the magnets. Ten
samples Of building stone were tested
With A delicate ms gnetic needle and found
10 be a tri1e seductive in their effect
.hereuQon. Finally q non-ms gnetic mar 7
BE was obtained for the Maryland sta c
ion and olher satisfactory material for
he others. The Alaskan observa tory
was e, upon nosts Of cAarreS wood coat :
d with tar and Sravel and planted in 4
cement The boiies OF the building were I
quilt o. wood. but ordinary nails could e
rot be used because magnetic. Hence 7
wooden pegs were substituted where pos 1
;ible and elsewhere copper nails were
driven. When II came % hinges and such :
hardware II was found that those on the
narfet alleged 20 be brass had iron parts :
solid brass fixtures therefore had 70 BE I
made TO order. The buildings were thus $