The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-07
For Tue National Efs.
A NEW NATIONAL OBSERVATORY IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE
Improvement of Mount Washington The White
Mountains to be Made Subservient to the Pur-
poses and Advancement Of American Science.

fmnrov9menC OF mount washington Whlte
Mountains to be Made Subservient to the Pur-
poses and Advancement Of American Science.
A memorial has recently been presented to
Congress, by Senator Weller, from California,
we believe, praying the United States Govern
ment to aid certain parties in the erection of a
great National Scientific Observatory in the
State of New Hampshire, by granting an ap-
preparation for that purpose. Its proposed site
is to be the summit of Mount Washington, the
highest accessible point which may be used
for the purpose in the whole United States, be-
ing nearly 1000 feet above mean tide level. 1t
will command from this summit an extended
view of the Atlantic coast, and the eye looks
out over the States of Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con-
necticut, and New York, on the east, south,
and west and upon the river st. Lawrence
and the Province of Canada East, on the north,
giving range of vision unequalled in extent
and interest BIZ any other mountain elevation
in the whole civilized world.
TO this consideration Of extreme altitude
may be added the fact, that the spot upon which
it is designed to build the proposed Observa-
tory has, during the past several years, been
occasionally occupied by various parties ma
king las well 70 the ragged nature of the place
would permit) astronomical, baroInetricai, and
were attended with marked success, and have
developed to the world new and important re-
suits in science, beneficial in the highest de-
gree to all classes Of community, but particu-
larry so to the copmsfcis' end naval depart
ments. These had in a measure more recently
bean discontinued, on account of the extreme
difficulty experienced in attaining the top of the
mountain, and from the peor accommodations
to be had after getting there and trips there
could only be made in June, July, or August.
But now a different state of things is about
to prevail, end the hoary crest of this King of
American mountains may be sscended with
perfect ease; and the sdventurer ia search Of
novelty, the invalid seeking recuperstion from
the designations and confinement of the city,
amid the pure, health-giving air of the uplands,
or the lover of science, DESTROYS of partaking of
the advantage of such an immense height, az
ter having reached it, will find every comfort
and facility to aid in carrying out their several
designs, and may continue there throughout
the year, as safely IS if ensconced in New York
hotel. To carry out this latter plan, a large ho
tel is about to be erected, in connection with
the Observatory proposed, and water elevated
by means of an apparatus being Manufactured
for the purpose. A carriage road on the Mao
adam principle has been constructed, from the
foo. Of the mountain to the top, and strongly
guarded on the outside by heavy wall. Along
this read has been put up line OF telegraph,
connecting with the line running to Portland,
Maine-thus placing the Observatory, when con-
strncted, in Communication with all the OBJ
seryatories and principal cities east of the Mis-
sissippi river, and affording to the people of
every State In the Unien daily estimate of all
the occurring variations and phenomena, in
astronomy, magnetism, Winds tides, &C., &c.
When the benefits of such an Institution are
once discovered, they viii BECOME as necessary
to commerce, science, and to Government, as
is now the steam engine, the railroad, the
telegraph, and many other modern aids to
e;yilization, which q few years ago we're scarce
ly knowa.
We take the following article from the ad-
mirable description of the "Observatories Of
the United States" by Professor LOOMS, one
| Of the brightest lights that adorn the American
| scientific Grmament. It is from the message of
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, in 1875, where re urges
upon the attention of Congress the subject and
propriety of erecting q National Observatory.
He says:
cit is vita no feeling of pride, as an Ameri-
can, that the remark may be made, that on the
small territorial surface of Europe there are
existing uBverdS of one hundred and thirty
nov increased to many mere-of these light
houses of the skies, while throughout the whole
| American hemisphere there is not one. If we
reflect a mc,.~Ant upon the discoveries which,
in the last four centuries, nav. haen mace IN
the physical constitution of the universe, by the
means of these buildings, and of observers sta
L a.. = L. ILL L. r. A. II