The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-07-29

be unfolded by the study of inherit,
cial1sts at Cold HaTbor, N. Y, who are
at work upon animals, fishes. insects
and plants. The laws Of evolution arc
being studied there at first hand. The
three factors of evolutiou-variation
Inheritance, and adjustment to en-
vironment-are being weighed, with
most interesting results. Our investi-
gators are aiming to develop better
breed OF cattle, new fishes. and plants
The products of Adjudication of ami
mails and plants are wonderful, anI
new light is being thrown upon such
obscure problems, for example. as the
significance of color markings
Another enterprise inaugurated by
the Carnegie Institution at great ex-
rense is that of making magnetic sur
yey of the oceanic areas of the globe.
Fairly good magnetic surveys have
been made of land areas, but the
water areas, three times as great, re.
main unexplored. No one knows as
yet the cause and nature of terrestrial
magnetism. Why does the needle
point to the north? Why does 1t vary
causes 1t to dip? What is the cause
of the third mysterious horizontal
movement, recently discovered? For
the purpose of gaining light on these
questions the brig Galilee is now max
ing survey of the North Pacific
Ocean. The most practical result Of
these studies, If they are fully worked
out, will be the mapping of the oceans
so that steam vessels may take and
keep the shortest route between two
ports with absolute certainty of posi-.
sition. At present perhaps, two full
days are lost by the swiftest steamers
in crossing the Pacific, ON account Of
the uncertainty of the navigator as
to the degree OF variation of the nee
die. The time of transatlantic liners
could also be cut down materially If
the magnetic variation were exactly
known at every stage of the route.
May Predict Earthquakes.
If the magnetic surveys undertakeL
by the institution are as successful as
hoped for, the secret of terrestrial
magnetism will be learned. This is
the splendid goal aimed at. Armed
with this knowledge, scientists believe
that rapid progress would be made
toward prognosticating the occurrence
OF earthquakes. They are satisfied
that a close connection exists between
the sun and terrestrial magnetism
and are prepared for discoveries
which will establish this connection
The observations of the sun taken
daily at Mount Wilson. are, therefore
considered in their relation to the
work OF the Ga,ilee, in m:d-Pacific
and investigators are hopeful that
these parties so far separated. will
find the threads that are supposed to
connect them.
Among the investigations of minor
Importance undertaken by the Carne-
gle Institution is that concerning
American history. Students are al
work in the government archives of
Spain, Great Britain, and Cuba, as
well as In the papers of the State De-
partment and the Library of Congress
Important historical data are believed
to be forthcoming within the next
year. The institution is also gather
ing material on an enormous scale
for an economic history of the United
States.
These studies, together with ad.
vanced researches in archaeology. ma.
rinebiology, chemistry, geology, pale.
anthology physics. zoology. and a doz-
en- other "ologies," comprise the chief
activities of this great institution,
which has already demonstrated its
immense usefulness in supporting in
vestigaticns which would be too cost.
II for private enterprise and which
are hardly within the scope of the
governments functions.