minute mark on the vernier to the angle already ascertained within half a degree from the limb: the sum will be the angle sought. The vernier in the figure reads 1° 20' L. 5. In some respects a vernier graduated decimally would be more convenient on railroad locations, where the 100-feet chain is used; the calculation of engineers' tables to sixtieths of a degree has prevented its adoption. 6. TO RE-MAGNETIZE A NEEDLE. Lay the north half flat on a smooth, hard surface, and with gentle pressure draw the south pole of a common magnet over it, from the centre outwards, withdrawing the magnet from it six or eight inches after each pass. Repeat ten or a dozen times. Treat the south half of the needle in the same manner with the north pole of the magnet. Replace the balancing wire. If the needle yet proves to be sluggish, take out the centre pin, and newly point and polish it. 7. If the needle, by reason of electricity, clings to the covering glass in the field, a touch of the moist finger to the top of the cover will release it. 8. Do not suffer idlers to play it about with knives, keys, and the like. 9. When the instrument is out of use, leave the needle free. 10. TO REPLACE CROSS-HAIRS. Take out the eye-glass tube. Remove the small lateral capstan head screws which hold the cross-hair ring athwart the barrel. Loosen the vertical screws, and, taking care throughout to observe the position of the ring, in order that it may be got back again right side up and right face forward, turn it lengthwise of the barrel. Insert the end of a pine sliver into one of the side holes, take out the vertical screws, and withdraw the ring. Stretch across new hairs, in the scores traced for them, of the finest clean spider-line; secure them with a touch of gum or wax, and put the ring in by a reverse process. 11. TO FIX A TRUE MERIDIAN. By equal shadows of the sun. before noon, mark the extremity of its shadow. With radius reaching to that mark, from a centre on the surface vertically below the top of pole, strike an arc eastward. Two or three hours after noon, watch for the moment when the extremity of the shadow touches the arc. There make another mark. The true meridian will pass from the centre midway between the two marks, if the observations be made about the period of the solstice, in June or December. The method gives a fair approximation at any time of year. 12. By observation of the North Star in meridian. Find the time of passage in Table I. Choosing still weather, hang a plumb-bob from some high place into a bucket of water, and establish a point of observation so far southward that the suspending line shall cover the breadth of sky between the Dipper and the North Star. The point of observation may be an upright bodkin, or compass-sight, fixed on a block movable horizontally east and west. Watch for the moment when, from the point of observation, the plumb-line covers the North Star and the first star in the handle of the Dipper; that is to say, the star nearest to the four which make the Dipper bowl. Exactly twenty-six minutes afterwards, bring the plumb-line in range with the North Star, by shifting the observation point laterally. That range will be the true meridian. Stakes may be set in it forthwith by means of candles. With a transit in good adjustment, the plumb-line is not necessary. Illuminate the cross hairs by reflecting light on the object glass from white paper. 13. By observation of the North Star at its extreme elongation. Find the time in Table II., and make the preparations above directed. Keep the plumb-line in range with the star until the star apparently ceases to move. Mark that range. Multiply the natural tangent of the azimuth, given in Table III., by the distance in feet from the point of observation to the mark in the northern range just set. The product will be the distance from said northern range mark, square right or left, to a point in the true meridian passing through the point of observation. If the western elongation was observed, set off the calculated distance eastward from the northern range mark; if the eastern elongation was observed, set the distance off |