The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-11
The Electro ohro.osr.ph OF Tn. National ob..rva.


As historical fac, it is certainly worth recording that
among the prosperous conditions Of country during
the many past years Of the performance OF the demo-
cratic party in the administration Of government the
cause Of science has been emincnty advanced Within
twenty years national reputation for actual practical
science has almost had its beginning and has ad
vanced with such rapidy that it has arrested the aen.
ton and called forth the admiration Of all foreign nations
Learned foreigners Of talent attracted by the bnancy
OF career, seeking shores asylum, and
as grand field in which their industry may reap such
rewards as free country is to bestow the de-.
serving Our national institutions have all into the
hands Of the present administration under circumstances
Of the most gratifying The army the navy, the
academy at West Point the typographical engineers, the
coast survey, the National Observatory the geological
and scientific expeditions, well organized and in
cessful activity. Nor in their patronage TO scientific men
have the democratic party made any partisan distinctions
in these Matters but have literally encouraged the tai.
ented OF both parties The tolls. prvations and pioneer
sacrifices OF the lamented Nicolet, the brilliant and
grand tours Of his pupil, the intrepid Fremont the ex.
ploring expedition under Commander Wilkes, and the
like, have all been patronzed and have all yielded their
glorious results The Observatory had its origin under
democratic Congress, The apparatus named at the head
of this article first ordered by late democratic
Secretary Of the Navy, John Y. Mason, ESQ.,, who
engaged the inventor, Dr. Locke, supernend its con
snucton at the Observatory; and happy TO see
although he has now retired from Office, and no furthe
official favors be expected from his hand yet he ha,
not been forgotten, and his stands engraved on III,
marble pedestal Of the beautiful instrument
II is difficult to give satisfactory description Of tho
chronograph II consists of four or FIVE instruments
connected by conducting wires with clock--which il
probably the most beautiful in the word-and also with
gavanc battery The astronomer sits al his telescope
holding in his hand key like the joint Of Cute
with its attached fngerkey; from this key plocee,
two wires-one to the clock, and the other to tn,
registering or recording instrument. As star o
other celestial body passes the several cfoss.wres
the instrument, the observer touches his key when
the moment the registering instrument marks dow
each observation in TO indicate the exact frac
ton OF second at which the observation occurred
This gives unerrng accuracy and great rapdy to the oh
servatonsgreat advantages to even local observations
but when the observer is determining longitude he i
enabled to work through the wires at the distance
hundreds or thousands Of miles with the same facility
he does across the Observatory
The chief registering instruments are LIST The Col
lateral Register, which Is like the Morse Telegraph Re
giser, but has FIVE pens instead Of one--each pen bein
connected with separate observing instrument by mean
Of wires. I'd. The Uaipersai Register This is re
volving cylinder covered with four square feet Of pre-
pared paper and having single pen traversng spiral
lily in such manner that Il marks five hundred feet