The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-09-16
HIGHLY IMPORTANT
EXPEDITION ARRIVES


]
port deals with the purposes of the
expedition.
while the state of our knowledge of
the distribution of the earths magnetic
forces over oceanic areas. owing to
the pauclty of precise data, is in gem
eral exceedingly unsatisfactory, this
is especially true for that great body
of water the Pacific Ocean, rapidly de-
velopng in great commercial import
ance.
Except for data from occasional ex-
petitions and such as were acquired in
wooden vessels a long time ago. the
present magnetic charts used by the
navigator over this region depend large
ly upon the observations on islands and
along the coasts. Such land obser-
vations, however, are rarely represen-
tative of the true values, because of
prevalent local disturbances. 1t is
therefore impossible to make any state
ment as to the correctness of the pre-
sent charts.
THE demands of science. as well as
those of commerce and navigation, re-
qure a systematic magnetic survey Of
this region under the most favorable
conditions possible, and that the work
be done under the auspices of some re-
| Cognized research institution in order
to insure that the scientific aspects Of
the work receive their adequate re-
cognition.
THE seasonal shifting of the per-
manent centers of barometric pressure
will cause a variation from month to
month of the conditions of wind and
current that are represented on this
particular chart; but if the departure
! from San Francisco be taken in the
summer the chain of meteorological
! events will contribute toward the max
! imum progress over the course, passing
thence along the west coast of America
to the vicinity of the Galapagos islands
| thence across the Pacific, in latitude
| between two and three. degrees north;
thence along the eastern side of the
Philippine Archipelago and the Empire
of Japan; thence eastward i'm about
| latitude ffty-two degrees north: thence
to the latitude of San Francisco, and
thence continuing through the series of
areas bounded by parallels of latitude
and meridians of longitude, each five
degrees apart, lying next in the mid
ocean side of the circuit last made and
! proceeding gradually and by success
! sive circuit into the central region of
the North Pole.
while it is not anticipated that any
marked Irregularities in the distribu-
ton of the earth's magnetism, VIII ma
nifest themselves over the deep wa
ters of the Pacific, it may be confident
| IL f11 f1aN to-, 1.
of the islands and along the coasts dis
! tortions and Irregularities will reveal
| themselves. With the aid of the re-
suits of the detailed magnetic survey
of the United States and Alaska, OPP
portunity viii therefore be afforded of
studying the effect of the configuration
of land and water upon the distribution
of the magnetic forces. The first cir
cult passing as it does along the Anne
rican and Asiatic coasts, will yield es-
pecially interesting results in this res
pect, Thus, for example, along the
Aleutian islands marked local disturb
/ ances will be revealed. Reports are
received frequently from mariners in
this region regarding the unsatisfactory
behavior of the compass; it is therefore
greatly to be desired that a magnetic
survey of the waters in this region be
made with all necessary detail"
The vessel is under command of Cap
tain ]. F. Pratt who was formerly the
commander of the U. S. Coast and Geo
detic Survey steamer Patterson and
who was here some months ago. The
other members of the party are: Cap
tain John T. Hayes, sailing master; DR..
j. Hobart Egbert, surgeon and magne-
tic observer of U S. Coast and Geodetic
Survey: ]. P. Ault, magnetic observer
from Carnegie Institute and Paul C.
Whitney, magnetic observer and watch
officer from Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey.
Whitney and Egbert were also at
tached to the Patterson during her re-
cent visit to these islands.
According to the plan the Gallinee
win remain about these islands for
about ten days. She will make a cir
suit of the group taking observations
during the trip. She viii keep in touch
with the Coast and Geodetic Survey
station at Sisal After completing
work about these islands the vessel
viii go north as far as 40 degrees north
latitude, and then strike across to San
Francisco, reaching that place about
December. From San Francisco it is
proposed to go down to the Galapagos
islands, and then across to the Philip
pires and up along the China and Jap
anese coasts, returning home by way
of the Aleuian islands and Sitka, Alas
ka back to San Francisco About
three years viii be required in which
to complete the volk.
1t is not known how long the Gallillee
will be Chartered for if a vessel more
suitable for the purposes of the ex-
Ipedition is secured, then the charter
of the Gallillee will not be renewed
A fund of $4,000 has been placed at
the disposal of the expedition for the
first years expenses. TIE work is be-
ing conducted under the direction of
the United States Coast and. Geodetic
Survey