New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-16
ASTRONOMY IN AMERICA.

THE CONDITION OF THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH IN THIS COUNTRY
4 REPORT BY AN EMINENT GERMAN AsIRoN-
oMER-TBE FIELD WHITE FOR The hAhNEsi
But THE LABORERs FEW.
From a report by Prof. T. Weiss of Vienna, who
visited this country in 1872 for the purpose OF ac
ouainting himself with the condition ct practical
astronomy in the United States, tie following ex-
tracts are made:
Landing in New-York on the 10th Of August, he
remarks that by reason Of the great extent OF the
United States il not possible for him TO Visit all the
observatories within the limit u his stay IN this
country II was useless 10 seek those observaores
which either had never developed real activity OF
only exhibited an ephemeral life that in most cases
scarcely resulted IN any corresponding nseiuI-
ness lie decided. after considerable renectloh'
to visit Albany. Clinton, Ann Ar6or, Chicago
and ST. Louis: thence going from Cincinnati to Wash
inston Cambridge, only because all the at pres
ent and weequipped observatories lay upon OF
very this but that he also attributed some
importance TO the principle OF first studying the MINOR
and subsequently the most completely equipped Oh
seryatories Washington and Cambridge. From this
circuit he returned the 3oth of September TO New
York.
After this general explanation OF the aud dnra
ton OF his tourney he says: will first give glance at
the development Of practical astronomy III America
and by way of preface explain the principles thaf nave
guided me in writing the following lines. Practical
astronomy as is well known, has been cultivated IN
America only within few decenniums for mot to speak
of single quite isolated observations in great part made
with portable instruments) the building OF the
first observatory and Herewith the insttutng OF reg
uar observations scarcely reaches back 10 1855 Under
these 1t will certainly astonIsh every
European that North America In respect 20 the number
Of its observaores, already compete with Europe
while In the way Of their Instrumental equipment II
a
however is the fact that IN America many excelieny
equipped observatOrie from their foundation up TO the
present time either lain faOw have maintained
only an apparent life The fact to be that the
eastern side of the Atlantic the man OF science must
wait for bis scientific apparatus while Oh the western
the apparatus waits for the man.
In Europe the scientific institutes, almost without
exception, are established and maintained from the
State funds. In America the other hand the State
gives only the permission to establish them, while the
means for their construction equipment, and mainten
procured through voluntary contributions OF
private persons. Consequently in Europe the scientific
assistance OF any such institution is IN the be-
ginning very modest, and only through the la
Dors Of It's representatives is raised, little by
little, TO dignity worthy OF the times. IL
America the other hand the basis for such inst
tuition most frequently derived thus: Rich dlettaDt
purchase for their cities for the schools in winch
they may have studied beautiful collections Of objects
costly instruments without reference TO the question
whether these be properly used and applied. Thus
1t happens that, so far as astronomy is concerned.
almost every Of the numerous colleges (which
Judging by their course OF studies equal the best
OF gymnasis possesses meridian circle. or refrac
tor OF dimensions such uld correspond 10 the
sanguine desires OF most European observaiores,
those first rank For instance America is so rich il
large that those under six inches aperture
accounted only sufficient for the observations OF the
SIM those up N inches aperture considered
desirable for educational purposes and only those OF
greater dimensions proper for the advancement Of
science.
But the intellectual and material forces necessary
their profitable application cannot keep equal with
the provision OF the instruments themselves. Expert
astronomers are often wanting, and sometimes the
necessary 70 pay even one man, 70 say nothing
of several astronomers, together with the required
assistants, cannot be obtained. The want OF funds,
however, is not Of so much importance since II IL
only temporary inconvenience. through which every
college has had to pass its youth for when friends
of science found who will pay for costly instruments,
then surely after shorter longer period there will
also appear those who will contribute the means
sary their proper use. And, IN fact, we have in
mind striking examples Of this IN OF the older
Others in Yale College, at New-Haven,
and in Harvard College at Cambridge, whose material
scarcely surpassed by any OF the European
Institutions and are continually increasing.
Or the other hand OF much greater importance is IL
that in general, almost all scientific institutions in
America feel tue of workers of every kind and IN
many cases. this want arises not much from financial
as social relations. For the number OF men who
devote themselves the service of science in America
very small, not only because the pursuits in other
paths far more profitable but especially because
The efforts Of every young man are concentrated in
the endesvor TO his own livelihood AZ soon a.
possible. This latter trait of character which most fire.
9uently hiDoers the pursuit OF yearlong stud
les is certainly the fundamental why scientific
growth does not correspond 10 the necessities This n
the case notwithstanding the fact that Americans /
are III no way disi2elined toward the sciences
Dut, on the contrary. very highly esteem both
them and the meu that cultivate them, as Is shown
by the aforementioned numerous gifts of prl-
Vate individuals for the improvement OF the
existing and the establishment OF new schools ana
scientific lnsttntes Furthermore. most Institutions
infer from an almost constant deficiency OF persons 10
EXECUTE the subordinate drudgery; and that again he
ause OF n national peculiarly For an American would
atheT subject himself 10 the severest bodily abor for
lays wages, than 70 iener anywhere as a servant fur
period since IN the latter case he must obey the
riders OF his master. aud tbie lie We've az depr alton
i his Individual freedom.