A volume was prepared for publication under the title "U. S. Magnetic Tables and Magnetic Charts," which gives the results of all magnetic observations previous to January 1, 1908, reduced to the epoch January 1, 1905. The tables and charts contain better values than heretofore published for the three elements of terrestrial magnetism in the United States at numerous stations covering the country. Tide tables containing the predicted tides for numerous ports on the coast of the United States and in foreign countries were prepared and published. The annual report of the Survey for 1907 was prepared for transmission to Congress. Several interesting appendices were published as a part of the report. These include an account of the earth movements in the California earthquake of 1906, as measured by the trigonometric work of the Survey, an account of the successful use of nickel steel or invar tapes in the measurement of primary base lines, and a detailed account of a long wire drag which has been constructed and successfully used by the Survey in definitely determining whether dangers to navigation had escaped detection when hydrographic surveys have been made by the usual method of sounding. The concluding part of the exhaustive treatise on the subject of tides called "Manual of Tides" also forms a part of the report. The amount appropriated for the Coast and Geodetic Survey for the fiscal year 1908 (ended June 30, 1907, was $991,290 (exclusive of the appropriation for printing), of which $245,000 was for manning and equipping the vessels of the survey, $10,000 for repairs and maintenance of vessels, and $50,000 for office expenses. The remainder of the appropriation was divided between expenses of parties in the field, $320,400, and salaries of field and office forces, $335,890. In addition to the above sums, the appropriations for marking the United States and Canada boundary and for locating and marking the Alaska boundary, made to be expended by the Secretary of State, are disbursed under my direction, as commissioner, by the disbursing agent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, as special disbursing officer of the Department of State. A detailed description of the work of the year, with maps illustrating its progress, can be found in my annual report, which is required by law to be submitted to Congress in December of each year. Respectfully, To Hon. OSCAR S. STRAUS, Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 67044-C & L 1908- -43 O. H. TITTMANN, Superintendent. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR, BUREAU OF STANDARDS, SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the work of the Bureau of Standards for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1908: DIVISION I.-ELECTRICITY. The work of the electrical division of the Bureau comprises photometry as well as electricity and magnetism. Each subject involves scientific investigation and the practical application of the results of such investigations to the improvement of electrical standards and the testing and verification of instruments and materials. The work of this division has been of three kinds-(a) pure research; (b) the investigation of methods of measurement and of testing, the design and construction of instruments for use in testing, the purchase, testing, and installation of equipment; and (c) the testing of instruments and materials for the public and the departments of the Government. It has been the policy of the Bureau from the outset to establish each line of work upon a rigorous scientific basis before undertaking actual testing for the public. A single test frequently involves extended research. Many of the tests are difficult and involve considerable theoretical knowledge as well as instrumental equipment. The electrical tests made during the year, 337 in all, include a wide variety of electrical standards, instruments, and materials. The research work done by the Bureau, the results of which have been published from time to time, has given it a high standing in the electrical world. The classical researches of Lord Rayleigh and ofhers of a generation ago laid the foundation and set. a high standard for work of this kind. But the order of accuracy now demanded in absolute measurements is at least ten times as great as then. This not only requires better instruments and facilities, but also refinements of theory and extended investigations of possible sources of error, which vastly increase the labor and time required. ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AND ELECTRO MOTIVE FORCE. The increased application of electrical methods to many classes of physical investigations and the more rigorous specifications for certain classes of commercial electrical apparatus has materially increased the testing work of the section. In order to reduce the time |