Evening star., 1930-12-11
TELLS OF NAVY'S
SCIENTIFIC WORK
Capt. HelIweg Describes OBJ
servatory as Seeking to Make
Sea and Air Safer.

The Naval Observatory was depicted
rs q scientific workshop, turning out
new methods to make the seas and air
safer and navigation easier, in the an
nual report made today to Secretary
Adams by the superintendent, Capt.
j. F. Hellweg.
The observatory maintained constant
touch with sources abroad, to obtain
the latest knowledge regarding the de-
velopment of aeronautical instruments
outside of the United States" as well
as improving instruments in use here.
Experiments and research work in de-
sign, development and improvement of
aeronautical material has been carried
forward at the observatory, its chief
said. Work has been accomplished on
airplane compaSSeS, instruments to
measure the wind, the metallic pilot
balloon plotting board, thermometers
and other aides to aerial navigation.
THE development of by so binocu-
lars at the optical shop, Navy Yard.
Washington, was continued" the report
said "A number of these binoculars
will be completed by June l, 1881. The
optical shop will then be able to manu-
facture this type
Need Increased Funds.
Capt. Hellweg points to the need
keep of the Naval Observatory and its
staff The superintendent had this to
say on this point: The remarks made
in previous annual reports regarding
the gradual deterioration of buildings.
grounds and roads, through lack of
funds, applies with equal force to the
period covered by this report. Every
effort continues to be made to hold in
check this deterioration and to make
such slight improvements as are pos
Sible with our very small force.
with more liberal appropriations,
the force could be increased and the
appearance of the reservation would
soon show the effect"
Admiral William v. Pratt. the new
chief of naval operations, now has his
official residence on the Naval Observ-
atory grounds.
Observatory officials continued efforts
to obtain a petroleum distillate suitable
for replacing the alcohol-water solu-
ton in ships magnetic compaSSeS. A
new instrument, designed for mounting
in the coming towers of the 10 00O-to
light cruisers to take relative bearings
from that station. has been developed
at the Washington Navy Yard optical
shop, which lis now constructing a SAM
pie instrument before proceeding with
production"
Convert ChrOnOmeters.
The superintendent said that a sur
plus war stock of patrol-boat chronom-
eters has been converted into second
setting navigational watches.
Time signal work is an important ac-
tivity at the Naval Observatory, the re-
port said adding that time signals sent
from Rugby, England and from Bor-
deaux, France, have been recorded here
on a majority of the dates throughout
the year.
1T is likely that the sun-spot curve
will now gradually decline until 1888 or
early in 1884, when a normal minimum
should occur" the report pointed out.
quoting Principal Astronomer George H.
Peters. Efforts are being made to de-
termine the nature of the solar phe-
nomena responsible for disturbances on
the lines of commercial companies and
also with respect to radio transmission,
the report said.
Several disturbances of considerable
magnitude have been reported Cnurins
the past year." Capt Hellweg said.
During the coming year, as indicated
by the conditions of the sun-spot curve.
magnetic conditions should be at least
equally active"
Ihe observatory continued to attract
q large number of visitors, 1892 going
TO the Thursday night showings of the |
heavens through the giant tele1cope on !
So nights. while 932 special visitors. in |
Guiding school and out-of-town parties, !
we're received on 40 nights.