The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-22

means experienced such work." he admits. but
with perfect He used threads procured from the
cocoon Of spider that in May crevces Of sheds
and out-houses, and which, he says should be taken
from its place whilst the eggs in it. The web then
resembles small fleece of wool, and the threads
round and smooth and strong We propose to give the
account OF this ingenious effort Lieut. Maury's
language
To respin these threads, ! took slip Of whaebone
ead n I IT, en be sd ny '%se
s wl1h NOT quite elasticity enough to break the thread Its
length pspe
round turns with IT, and then confirming the ends by press
the whaebone, with the spider line stretched it,
looks like bow that is strung The whole is now held in
is original length II the elasticity Of the bone be- not sui
sisted with the fingers md hu%6 Removing he thread
from the wa.s md leaving il few moments to dry APP
nsd is now 9ssIp placed n dIsaEn bow hanging
then placed in the score under magner with an edged
tool Of soft pine taking care not to remove the burr made
pement yields enough score the wire well down in It's
notch. The ends OF the spider line made fast, by
eea Of The Iss sna 81 are
ed until the wax spread out sufficiently thin, when is
ho The spider lines thus respun and stretched have no
manned in all weather taut bar They beau
in are only GAS in thickness. They straight smooth
and glossy like the rest said that il spiders, by any
rio of the telescope they will cut the wires from the da-
hsg ms ia as suggested they are aG pu. IN
with which wires have been respun and put upon tho
oE s ONE ssd besa e s
u they proceeded to spin upon the lines had put
more delicate compliment spider could not annoy
with, certainly" s't.l4fr
The value of this improvement can be properly appre-
urements made with spider lines. The diameter of the
sun, or planet for instance is measured by placing
spider line the upper and another the lower limb
OF the object as it passes through the telescope The
optical distance between these two lines is the diameter
required For this purpose it is not only required that
the lines should be straight and even, but is equally
necessary that the thickness of them should also be de-
termined and known. single spiders thread may sub
tend optical angle of second more according to
important part; and the neglect of such quantity
would create confusion among the astronomers as to the
magnitude OF the sun, moon, and planets se
Other Improvements have also been made. By pc
cuiar system of lines which the superintendent has
tived and adapted to his instruments the observers
enabled to dispense with an assistants curious achieve
ment, which makes the web of spider do the work OF
mani The great Bessel, in his " Zone Observations"
the most extensive catalogue made assisted by
the braye" Argelander who read the instrument and re-
corded while the other observed By the Washington ar
rangemen the person Observes reads and records
Besse with the aid of his assistant could observe three
stars per minutes Lieut. Maury, BY his arrangement can
observe two stars in minute without assistant, and
with greater degree OF accuracy IT, Gas we believe was
the case the Kongsburg instrument was read with but
one crOScOpe-aS the washington observers read WIN
SIX microscopes, the OF which likely to afford tho
most accurate result ha&
We have been lead into making detailed remarks
than was intended at the outset Of this article upon
some Of the subjects embraced in the volume before u.s.
from the consideration that this important establishment
Is rather novelty in our country, and that its present
publication is the first report OF its progress to the pub
lie Several other observaories are now, will
be- in operation We approve highly Of the present plan
OF having this one OF the observaories naval nsttu-
ton, under the management of navy officers yet we
think that its organization is susceptible Of one Inn
provement 1t should be separated from the Bu-
reau of Ordnance, and called the Bureau of Longi-
reported from the naval committee at the last session OF
Congress, by unanimous consent We hope to see this
bill become law The English and French govern
mens with the foresight and prudence worthy of great
maritime nations, practise in this respect upon the ad
vice OF General Washington, and Sin peace prepare for
war; by causing their appropriate bureaus to be CONSTANT
ly collecting photographed nformationto publish such
that which would be exclusively useful for naval opera
tons in the event OF With squadrons cruising IN
every sea- have not poted by the advantages thus
presented principally from the want OF bureau specially
organized for the purpose. Every attentive observer OF
passing events must be that OF recent
had such bureau existed but single year back. But
chiefly from the want of such photographed information
would have been the business OF the proposed bu
reau to furnish, have seen commanding officer of
acknowledged ability, energy and gallantry, unable to
secure for some of his efforts the success they deserved
construction of the American Nautical Almanac, useful
and necessary work, which has been recommended to
Congress by the present popular and udcious Secretary
of the Navy, who well understands the real wants OF
the service and for which the observations already made
at this naval observatory afford ample materials.