20 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 45, No. 2 The Morning Oregonian, February 20, 1895 Captain Gilbert Comes to Make Magnetic Observation. Captain J.J. Gilbert, of the coast and geodetic survey, arrived in Portland yesterday to take the regular observations connected with the magnetic stations established several years ago. Many will remember when an officer of the coast and geodetic survey had a tent pitched on the southeast corner of the post office block, and, after making his observations and calculations, “planted” a stone monument a foot or two deep. In placing this monument under the ground, it was not intended that it should sprout and grow into a Bunker Hill monument, or anything of the kind. The stone was put there so it would not be disturbed. The object of the work done and to be done is to keep track of the changes of the magnetic pole, or, rather, the changes in the variation of the magnetic needle from the true north. Everybody knows that the compass needle does not point to the true north, but varies here something over 20 degrees, but everybody does not know that this variation varies, and is constantly changing. The object of the magnetic stations established at various points by the coast and geodetic survey is to keep track of the variation, as well as the intensity of the magnetic force and the dip of the magnetic needle; to see how far the variation extends east, and then how far west; and how long it takes for it to travel between the outside limits. The design is to find out the law which governs it so that the variation for any time in the future, the same as the phases of the moon or the tides, can be predicted years in advance. Captain Gilbert is somewhat afraid that the station here has been ruined by the number of electric wires strung about in all directions, the induction from which is unable to affect the delicate instruments used in his observations. What may happen when the new power station Surveyors News By Pat Gaylord, PLS Needle and its Changes in the at Oregon City is completed and several thousand horsepower in the shape of electricity under “high pressure” is being pumped into this city daily, it is difficult to conjecture. But it may be that it will knock the compass silly, and cause the needle to point straight up and down like a Hibernian hurricane. Captain Gilbert is a brother of United States Circuit Judge Gilbert. He has been connected with the coast and geodetic survey for about 20 years, and is quite well known here, having been for some time employed on the survey of the Columbia. For several years past, he has been stationed on Puget sound. x Surveyors were much in the news during the development of Oregon. Through the archives of the University of Oregon Library, this column revisits and celebrates some of those stories of our profession. Captain Gilbert is somewhat afraid that the station here has been ruined by the number of electric wires strung about in all directions, the induction from which is unable to affect the delicate instruments used in his observations. Surveyors in the News
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