In 1934 McConnell knew his subject so well that he was placed in charge of some of the gravity work. Hosky, proud of his helper’s progress, gave him a warm handshake before starting on new work’ of his own.
One day in 1936 Hosky was asked to do a special and unusual job. He was called to Bowie’s office to meet Maurice ‘Ewing and Harry Hess, well known earth scientists. “They are famous for their interest in gravity studies,” Bowie said.
“Glad to meet you,” Hosky smiled, “I’ve heard you are working to measure• gravity at sea:”
“Yes,” Dr. Ewing replied. “We’re very eager to work in a submarine. They go below the waves, and so they’re much steadier than surface ships.”
“Isn’t that what Dr.Vening Meinesz made his special pendulums for submarine work?”
“‘Yes, they were his idea.”
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
What makes Hosky more skillful
After studying Hosky’s gravity readings the Geodetic Survey reported to the Atlantic Refining Company that the rocks in the Cuban area might contain oil. A great pool of it may indeed be waiting to be discovered there, the report said. But the Batista revolution swept Cuba soon after Hosky’s departure and ended any hopes of favorable agreements with the Cuban government.
After his success in Cuba, Hosky was sent on a series of jobs, always with McConnell. Between jobs he brought the pendulums to Washington to be examined. These trips gave him opportunities to talk with Major Bowie and the geodetic scientists of the Survey. He became more and more skilled and was always full of ideas to improve his work.
After his success in Cuba, Hosky was sent on a series of jobs, always with McConnell. Between jobs he brought the pendulums to Washington to be examined. These trips gave him opportunities to talk with Major Bowie and the geodetic scientists of the Survey. He became more and more skilled and was always full of ideas to improve his work.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Testing the force of nature
In 1933, Hosky arrived in Cuba and proceeded to Las Villas and Camaguey Provinces, where his activities caused much curiosity among the people there. There was general unrest on the island at that time. The Havana newspapers published reports that Hosky and his men were looking for buried treasure to steal from the Cubans. Hosky only wanted to make his gravity readings, and he tried to finish as quietly and quickly as possible. His pendulums never stopped. Inside their metal case they swung ceaselessly, moving faster or slower, thus silently testing the force of Nature. Hosky and McConnell worked long hours to hasten completion of their work. They all felt the strain that, affected both Cubans and Americans. When it was finally time to leave they were glad indeed to go.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Hosky and Major Bowie talking seriously
“Is that why we’re here?”
“It is. Major Bowie and the men opposing his views agreed that these mountains are a good place to decide the issue.”
“What is the answer?”
“Oh, it’ll all have to be carefully figured in Washington and examined by the opposing side, but I know this much: Major Bowie is correct.”
On Hosky’s next visit to Washington he talked with Major Bowie. “It was clever of you to get out of that snowstorm,” Major Bowie assured him. “You had our only Brown pendulums. But we always could depend on you,”
“I didn’t want to stay up there, so I came out.
What do I do next?”
“Here’s the story. An oil company, the Atlantic Refining Company, believes there is oil in Cuba. They have picked two locations they want surveyed with our pendulums. They are willing to pay for the work, so that’s your next job. Interested?”
“I certainly am, sir.”
“It is. Major Bowie and the men opposing his views agreed that these mountains are a good place to decide the issue.”
“What is the answer?”
“Oh, it’ll all have to be carefully figured in Washington and examined by the opposing side, but I know this much: Major Bowie is correct.”
On Hosky’s next visit to Washington he talked with Major Bowie. “It was clever of you to get out of that snowstorm,” Major Bowie assured him. “You had our only Brown pendulums. But we always could depend on you,”
“I didn’t want to stay up there, so I came out.
What do I do next?”
“Here’s the story. An oil company, the Atlantic Refining Company, believes there is oil in Cuba. They have picked two locations they want surveyed with our pendulums. They are willing to pay for the work, so that’s your next job. Interested?”
“I certainly am, sir.”
Friday, December 12, 2008
The new method of getting oil
Hosky continued, ‘.’The day after I returned from Alabama, Major Bowie told me of a still more important problem about gravity measurements.”
“Is it more important than the roots?”
“Yes, because it represents a new method of finding oil. The oil companies were making gravity surveys of their own, to find places where oil might be discovered. Everything depended on whether they could be certain what formations of rocks lay under the earth’s surface.”
“Did anyone doubt that hidden rock formations could be recognized by gravity measurements?”
“Yes, quite a few people refused to believe it could be done. But Major Bowie knew it and wanted to prove he was correct.”
“Is it more important than the roots?”
“Yes, because it represents a new method of finding oil. The oil companies were making gravity surveys of their own, to find places where oil might be discovered. Everything depended on whether they could be certain what formations of rocks lay under the earth’s surface.”
“Did anyone doubt that hidden rock formations could be recognized by gravity measurements?”
“Yes, quite a few people refused to believe it could be done. But Major Bowie knew it and wanted to prove he was correct.”
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The converstion goes more technical
“And you were the first to use them?”
“Yes. I experimented with them until I was sure they worked well. After that I went to Alabama to test a theory about the roots of the Appalachian mountains.”
“Roots of the mountains?”
“That means the crust of the earth is thicker under the mountains.”
“What’s that-crust of the earth?”
“It’s a covering of lighter rocks lying over heavier rocks beneath.”
‘‘Whose idea was that?”
“Several earth scientists. My work in Alabama proved the theory is correct.”
“Was that important?”
“Gravity surveys show the true direction of the gravity pull. The line of this pull curves down toward the roots of big mountains.”
“Yes. I experimented with them until I was sure they worked well. After that I went to Alabama to test a theory about the roots of the Appalachian mountains.”
“Roots of the mountains?”
“That means the crust of the earth is thicker under the mountains.”
“What’s that-crust of the earth?”
“It’s a covering of lighter rocks lying over heavier rocks beneath.”
‘‘Whose idea was that?”
“Several earth scientists. My work in Alabama proved the theory is correct.”
“Was that important?”
“Gravity surveys show the true direction of the gravity pull. The line of this pull curves down toward the roots of big mountains.”
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Development of pendulums
It took two days for the road ahead to be cleared, so they had the opportunity to do some talking.
“How did you get into this work, Hasky?” Harold McConnell, Hosky’s helper, asked.
“Oh, that’s quite a story. You see, I was the first man to use the new Brown pendulums. That was about a year ago. Brown never had a chance to use his own invention.”
“What happened?”
“He worked more than two years developing it, and then he was ordered back to sea duty. Too bad!” “How did he develop the pendulums?”
“He started with an old kind of pendulum, and improved everything about it. The main idea was the same a pendulum swinging on a very thin pin in a chamber completely emptied of all air. The stronger the gravity field, the faster it swings. There has to be an arrangement for keeping time by radio signals, and for counting the swings.”
“How did you get into this work, Hasky?” Harold McConnell, Hosky’s helper, asked.
“Oh, that’s quite a story. You see, I was the first man to use the new Brown pendulums. That was about a year ago. Brown never had a chance to use his own invention.”
“What happened?”
“He worked more than two years developing it, and then he was ordered back to sea duty. Too bad!” “How did he develop the pendulums?”
“He started with an old kind of pendulum, and improved everything about it. The main idea was the same a pendulum swinging on a very thin pin in a chamber completely emptied of all air. The stronger the gravity field, the faster it swings. There has to be an arrangement for keeping time by radio signals, and for counting the swings.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
