New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-03
THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY IN
CENTRAL PARh.

tL4'L nm nun"
In an article in The TRIBUNE in April last, we
showed the vital importance Of first class Obserya-
tory in New-York, for the safety of commerce ANY
one reading that article may how easy Is for ships
TO be lost for want Of certain additional safeguards TO
the ordinary rating Of thermometers, however well
done it may be- which rst-class Observatory alone
can adequately supply. He may also the value OF
the system Of meteorological observations which would
accompany such an establishment as an important
guide to vessels in putting to sea; Of the magnetic OBJ
servatory which would he connected with 1t, for aiding
in discovering the laws which govern the variation OF
the needle.
When il is considered that the loss of a single ship Is
often more than sufficient to build equip, and defray
the current expenses of rst-cass astronomical obser
vatory is surprising that the great commercial city of
the new world should have consented to be so long
without one.
Whatever influences the security and diminshes the
EXPENSES of the commerce of this great city, affects
the prosperity of every one Of It's inhabitants aud OF
the whole country.
But there is a more enlarged view of this subject
which we desire TO present yet stih one which
relates 10 It's bearing on the increase OF wealth.
There is no doubt shat the great wealth Of the world
in modern times has been produced more a hum
bred fold by the progress Of science than by all other
causes put together.
The science of Political Economy, by discovering
the laws which govern capital labor production ana
consumption trade, demand and supply; by carefully
collating statistical phenomena and sysematHng the
results has been the guide TO the wealth of nations IN
the present day. The science of Astronomy, by dis
covering the movements of the heavenly bodies ana
tabuatng their places for all time, has alone rendered
the navigation of the great oceans practicable and per-
fected Geography. The science of Chemistry IN Its
applications TO medicine TO arts and manufactures, has
revoutionzed completely many branches OF industry
aud created a vast number of new ones The science
of Geology has developed the mineral resources OF the
earth 10 extent utterly unprecedented oeiors ITS IN
fiuence was felt.
We might continue the enumeration but our read
ers will easily do il for themselves Ii If very clear
that 10 encourage the cultivation of science IS 10 seek
bv far the most efficient means of increasing material
wealth Ii is fanced theory, but the planest de-
ducton from facts that whatever any one gives Tor
such an object will be returned many fold 70 himself
or his children in the enlarged resources Tor general
wealth which il must be the means of producing.
But there is a still higher view. Wealth i means
of enjoyment but the most efficient means only Wheh
accompanied by intellectual development IN s posses
sor The mere pleasures Of eating and drinking among
cultivated people rise aesthetic arts. The gratlci-
ton Of the taste in dress and equpage IL OF purely
Intellectual character; kind Of qualification which
increases vastly in range and intensity by some degree
of cultivation in the fine arts. knowledge OF the
great events of which the earth has been the theater,
of its structure and the natural objects which cover IT,
affords food for the mind when satiated with pleasures
of sense and imagination. Who would desire 10 he
ignorant of the existence OF such place AZ LONDON or
Paris and all the associations which their names call
up or of the movement of affairs in any Of the great
civilized countries Of Europe The eagerness win
which the foreign sought after by all classes OF
the community whether personally interested IN II or
not shows what natural and necessary want IL me
knowledge Of something beyond our own lmmedih'e
sphere.
This desire for knowledge of things not in immediate
contact with extends beyond the earth itself. To
know that there vast worlds ranscending our own
in magnitude whose exact distance and size have been
accurately measured that they have atmospheres Ike
our own that they are suited 10 be the habitatons OF
intelligent beings like ourselves that their movements
will be in exquisite harmony, in obedience 10 wsl-es-
tablshed mechanical laws, for ages to come, 80 that
the astronomer tell 20 what point OF the heavens
the telescope must be directed thousands of years
hence TO discern them, to know with precision the
vast magnitude more than million times that OF the
EARTH of the sun the of light and heat and the
controlling influence of all the phenomena OF animal
and vegetable life to and the other planets OF
the system, to know that this solar system, vast and
grand az il is is but one of the myrads like II IN
that universe of suns known the milky way, that
this again is but one Of many detached univerSes
throughout the seemingly unlimited regions Of space
all this calculated TO expand and elevate the mind
and to add immensely TO the resources tor intellectual
enjoyment.
old as il the science of Astronomy, there is no
doubt that its progress in the last thirty years has been
far more rapid than at any former period, or than the
mere advance OF time would have led US TO expect.
This is due doubt, to the multiplication OF obserya-
tories.
The "unsolved problems" Of Astronomy require the
industrious labor OF "A host of observers, working IN
harmony toward one great object. Where an observa
tory has of each kind of great instrument for OBJ
seryatiOn with a corps of observers and cOmputefs
sufficient 10 give each efficiency, il is not worth while
10 duplicate the instruments in the place. II u
far better to seek new and somewhat distant locality
for the purpose because often when the most lmP0r
tant but transient phenomena occurring the sky
NAV be clear in one place and not in another. Distant
obseryatories may work with no less harmony,
especially since the invention of the magnetic tele-
graph, than If they were placed side by side
Ii becomes the duty, therefore, of every community
of sufficient wealth and importance To found an esaD-
shment Of this kind No city of any magnitude can
with proprety be without one. New-York certainly
cannot longer neglect the claims Of mankind, and oil
her own enlightened interest in this particular With
| out disgrace before the civilized world.
Astronomy is constantly making discoveries directly
affecting the material interests OF the inhabitants oil
the earth Ii is but recently that there has been aseer
tanned be periodiety in the spots on the sun, ana
that in those years in which they most numerous,
the seasons dryes and most fertile III ~ easy 10
| foresee how the certain knowledge OF this may be
| turned 10 account. We want more instruments and
men TO look after such things these. The discovery
of gaseous ring about the earth, within u wv miles,
the probable the meteors and meteore stones
shows that there are astronomical influences near at
| hand Indeed the very existence OF the meteOrs
| show this whatever may be their source, winch are
felt in own atmosphere and We are cognzant oil
Investigations now going on which are likely 70 lead
10 the discovery of foreign sources-oemlea not ter
resral-for the of epdemics, OF sudden changes
of temperature of the borealls, ana OF ndhy
| phenomena of our OWE atmosphere, thus connecting
more Intimately still the sciences Of Astronomy ana
Meteorology, which have always been more or less
mutually dependent.
In conclusion. we beg leave to state thai me pro-
yisonal trustees appointed under the admirable Char
ter granted by the Legislature, now that orr Proinl-
.FaFKTn a