The Washington times., 1907-12-29
FLEET NENACES
MAGNETIC YACHT,
GALILEE IS WARY
Steel in Big BattleShips
Would Destroy Deli
cate Survey InStru-
mentS.

The delicate mechanism Of the mag
netic survey yacht Galilee will not per-
nit the little ship TO enter port at
Callao unless the big battleship feet.
under command of Admiral Evans, has
proceeded to California.
II the fleet has not left port at the
time the Galilee approaches the Peru
vian coast the course OF the survey
slip must be changed or its entire sci
entihc construction will be ruined. This
is because of the thousands Of tons Of
steel in the sixteen battleships which
would have such influence upon the
magnetic testing instruments that their
power would be destroyed
Safeguarding Mechanism.
In order 10 measure the disastrous
influence these agents would have upon
the mechanism OF the survey ships out
fit It is stated that before the Galilee
started on its record voyage in 1890 IL
had TO be almost entirely reconstructed
In order 10 meet the requirements OF
the cruise The presence of steel and
other metal about the ship promised to
interfere with the operations Of the in
struments.
Extensive alterations were made,
among them being the substitution OF
s1 1eat rings of hemp instead Of the steel
fittings used to raise the immense spread
OF canvas. So delicate was the con-
struction Of the scientific equipment
that at one time II was thought 1t
might be necessary to substitute wooden
belts in the sides OF the boat for the
original ones OF metal. This, however,
vas not done for fear Of weakening the
body construction OF the boat
Would Destroy Instruments.
Dr. L. A. Bauer, director OF the de-
partment of research in terrestrial mag
retism OF the Carnegie Institution. said
Yesterday that the nearness Of even one
battleship to the magnetic survey ship
would have a most detrimental eject
and that a feet OF cruisers would be
likely to wreck the entire machinery.
When the GaIilee reaches the port OF
CaIlao It Will have completed a cruise
of GO.OOO miles without having made a
landing, and with the record Of bu;
one accident. This is regarded as one
Of the most remarkable achievements
In the naval history Of the world as
well as in that OF scientific accomplish
ments. The GalIlee arrived at Christ
church. New Zealand, last Friday.
In connection with the work of the
party Of scientists aboard the Galilee
il is pointed out that many people
are of the opinion that the needle OF q
| compass always points directly north
and south. There are, however, com
parauvely few points throughout the
world where this condition exists.
Beginning with an unnamed point IL
the central part OF Ohio, where the
needle Is perfectly true, the angle al
which II rests varies the farther east
or west It is taken, as the case may be
| Heretofore. these angles were not known
| except in few places in the Pacific and
since the mariner must travel entirely
/ by compass. when it is cloudy, it is OF
vital Importance that he knows the
angle his compass viii take at different
points along the route.
To Compute the Angles.
It was to compute these angles that the
! Galilec set out in 1908 with a full crew
and W. J. Peters, commander; P. II
1 Pike and D C Sewers. magne -ic obServ.
ers. and DR.. George Peterson. surgeon
/ The first run to San Diego was merely
I a trial run.
} While lying off Yokohama IN August
Of 1906 typhoon blew the vessel on tn,
1 breakWater at that place. but luck wG'
with the little party and the boat wa,
| raised, the damage repaired and tn,
craft again on it's way within a week.
| One Of the most remarkable features
of the trip is the distances covered by
/ the boat before a stop is made or ever
/ land IS seen. True, the trip Of Admira
/ Evans feet from the Atlantic to the Pa
clfiC will be a feat to be proud Of wher
( il is completed but the men on boarC
will at least have views of land a grea
part of the way. The Galilec has beer
at sea sometimes. however, withou
| sighting land for as long as six or sever
weeks. One trip from a point on th'
japanese coast to Seattle, Wash, a dis
tance of over 5000 miles. was made fl
| something less than seven weeks will
never a sight Of land.
The boat which mas made this trip Il
a small one. Her length is 1924 feet
breadth 23.4 feet: depth 12.6 feet. Sh
Hs. a displacement Of 600 tons. Sh,
Is one Of the fastest sailing vessels o
her size in the Pacific ocean. her great
est record being 9OS knots in twenty-fou
hours.
I