The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-03-20
THE HAs5KsIN LETTER
TERRET TIAL MAGNET ISM.
b Frederle J. Haskin.

III b Bred,
a world survey that reaches from
1.-THE equatorial tropics to the frozen
wilderness Of both the poles, and In
!. cludes the depths 1.-THE ocean. is now
being made by a party of scientists
for the purpose of ascertaing changes
in the lines OF magnetism that sur
sround the earth. and upon which the
iarrof navigation Is absolutely de-
pendent. For these mysterious lines
control the compass, and It is only. by
| their guidance that man has been able
to measure and traverse the world, on
both land and sea. The undertaking
/ is one OF peril and adventure. for it
/ will take the party into regions never
before visited by. civilized man.
The present survey will establish
Istations where magnetic observations
Twill be taken and which are to be
revisited at regular intervals OF from
three to five years and a comparison
lof records made. so that future
changes may be detected. Vi.
This great survey Is the work Of
the Terrestrial Magnetism Depart
ment of the Carnegie Institution in
lWashing ton. and is under the dtrec-
| ton of DR.. l.. A. bauer. It has all
READY covered over million miles OF
the earth's surface, and established
over three thousand magnetic obser-
walton stations, many of which are ii
remote and inaccessible sections OF
the globe. Despite the European war
this great work is still going on, al
hough owing to the difficulties of
transportation, some Of the work III
European countries is suspended, and
the center OF activity in interior ex-
(pioration has beenschanged from Afri-
c. to the United States.
Last year, Observer D. W. Berkey,
land his assistants, under the protec-
ton of the French governments,
crossed the Sahara desert from Al
giers to Tim buktu. This was the
first American scientific expedition
which ever completely crossed the
Sahara. although several had pene-
trated its borders. Through the CO.
operation OF the Italian government.
a similar line OF observations extend
ing from Tripoli across the desert.
had been planned for this year. An
lescort and guarantee OF the safety
for the party had been promised by
1.-THE Italian government. The unset
i
tribes brought about by the war ne
cessitated the withdrawal of this
guarantee. It was then decided to
transfer the party to Brazil, and It
will arrive in Rio de Janeiro about
March 90. Mr.. Berkey will cooperate
with the Brazilian government in the
ma ghetto work already accomplished
there under the direction of Dr. Hen
lrique Morize. His route viii lie
Through the interior of the country,
following the course of the Xingu
river until it joins the Amazon. As
this is practically unexpIoredsc country.
notes Of geographical value will sup
Iplement the ma ghetto observa tons to
be taken.
The value of a systematic m agnetic
survey OF the globe has been under
stood for centuries, but no individual
nation could achieve SO stupendous
an undertaking. It could only be ac-
cemplished BY the cooperation Of all
the nations with none in control This
was only possible by making 1t scfen
lttf1c expedition, carried on by strictly
scientific men working upon private
funds. not controlled by any govern
ment. Upon this basis. all the ma
lions could cooperate, and all are ben
lteftted by the results which are given
u the world at large. ss
The are OF navigation is built en-
ysupon the magnetism of the
earth as revealed by the compass
needle. The compass is popularity
supposed to point North, but this is
not true except at a few isolated
places upon the earth's surface. Tbs
variation from this northerly direc-
E.tlon Is due to lines of magnetic force
which. constitute sort Of aura sur
grounding the earth. These lines are
continually changing. The task unde-
taken by the of Terrest-
trial Magnesium is to map out the en-
tire surface of the earth and note
n.tNie rxaDvetcc NH mhmmnlht
Where the changes are greatest, and
so far as possible. the causes contri-
buting to them. The discovery made
by the sailors with Columbus that the
compass was not pointing due North
is said to have been responsible for
their mutiny. Columbus even then
Was aware that the compass changed
In certain localities. although his
llSnowledge was vague. He said to
have shifted his compass card to res
gain his control over his men
From before that time down to
the present, mariners have been
4 aware that the compass deviated,
and charts have been continually
changed to meet conditions "A few
Expeditions have beer sent out from
time to time by different govern
ments. for the purpose Of Securing
more accurate informati,h, regarding
the earth's magnetism, but these
have not been OF great. value. save
for comparison. because they have
mot the proper equipment for taking
absolutely accurate Observations, and
ialsc because OF the continuous