New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-26
The GREAT ohieago Tele,eore.
VISIT TO THE WORKSHOP OF CLARK, MANU-
FAcTuRER OF THE INSTRUMENT.

>
correspondence of Cambridge sss) Chronicle Mareh ~
Understanding that the great retraeIing rsls
scone constructed by yonr neighbor, Avian Siafh'
was to be taken to its destination n ltW Gays,
embraced the opportunity o. ha ia n's pd nv
~ 81 lannon's I found Mr.. Clark accompany
inc a number of visitors to his shop, where,
affer arranging some packages for customers, he
rarv nniiteiy invited me to look OF the different
nort;ons Of the telescope, which occupied various
pparts Of the shop. The mahogany tube is twenty
three feet focal length, and inquired of Mr..
Clark how he was intending to pack it for trans
portation: he remarked that it would be quite
easy, as an aperture was to be cut in the end OF
the baggage car when it could be readily loaded
After satisfying our curiosity at the shop, Mr..
Clark invited us to his house. where, in one of the
upper rooms, we saw the object glass, or great
eye, of the telescope; it is over one foot and a
feet in circumference it is said to be the largest
refracting telescope in the world now in working
order, and is probably equal in power to the
great Ross and Herschel refectors. One of the
lady visitors at Mr.. Cark's expressed much regret
that this telescope was to be taken 1000 miles
west, and inquired with great earnestness why it
was not retained in Massachuse IS.
The first cost Of the object glass; which consists
Of two discs, was over $1,000 each, in Birmingham,
England, and its present worth tnow completely
is $1l ,lST, and it is insured for Sll ,000.
& 4 The expense of the equipment is $1,000, making
o total for the finished telescope of SIS lS7:
In 1862 correspondent of the Boston Courier
extracted from the college report the following
Mr.. Stafford has also investigated the proper
motion Of Sirius in declnation, and has oDsalnso
an interesting confirmation of Bessei Is
that this star revolved around an insasI p.o1.
panion in its near vicinity. III President feltons
Annual Report. 4. "a. /. III -u.,,h,,,, sor
although his telescope at that Tune was moi
equipped. the object glass vas M ~ .el
tower, where celestial objects could be viewed.
When testing the power of his refraetor, the
father proposed to his son Avian to turn the tube
towards Sirius to find the companion: It was the
work Of hut . few minutes of time. for the sons
uuick eve readily discerned it, and its existence
was soon confirmed by an observation of the
father. For this discovery young Clark received
from Paris the La. Lande prize of astronomy, a
highly complimentary European testimonial A
long period of time and many more observations
are necessary to enable astronomers to determine
whether the companion accounts for all the dis
tubrances Of Sirius VI 4stgs .algas sata
Mr. Clark has great versatility of talent; his ge-
Mus as an optician shines conspicuous, but his
talents as an observer are thought by European
sabans to equal it, He has an extraordinary pow
er Of eye, and has been remarkably successful in
making discoveries of delicate nature, where
great perfection of Instruments and keenness OF
vision were requisite. He is also a fine portrait
painter.
III. Clark il possessed of q kind and compass
sionate heart, aud is a man of sterling integrity
and worth. He has raised himself to the proud
position which he now occupies by merit alone
and his achievements as an optician and observer
are honorable to himself OF great credit to his
adopted city, and also to the whole country. Mr.
Clark and his assistants (two sons) intend to start
for Chicago with the great telescope, by the mid
die Of March it will then be permanently attached
to the tower already prepared for it at the Dear
born observatory. The best wishes of the friends
8of science will attend them on this journey 4'