The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-11
THE EQUIPMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS.
Locations Selected by the Various Coun-
tries for Observation.
ENDS AND PURPOSES In VIEW.
Past Theories Of the Sums Dis
tance from the Earth.


pany Of scientists to very distant lands on an
errand such as the world has not known for moro
chan hundred years. our readers know that
preparations Tor observing che passage OF the fair
star Venus across the SUMS disk IN December next
have been going on Tor some time past at such
centres Of astronomical work as Greenwich aud
Washington. We doubt whether many are aware
how much more widely extended than this is the
present movement; how deeply stirred our
scientists are, or what truly practical uses this
worldwide stir aims to secure. We say world
wide because America, Europe. Asia, Africa and
the most distant isIes OF the sea are, indeed,
stirred by It. We present. therefore. from trust
worthy sources, first,
THE PARTIES OF OBSERVERS AND THEIR STATIONS.
Over the illuminated side OF the earth on the
morning OF December so there will be probably
eighty stations at which astronomers, physicists
and photographers viii all be staring up at that
black dot which VIII show Venus moving across
the SUMS disk. II an aeronaut can have the power
Of his vision extended that morning SO as to
look down on all these stations he will look upon
what might be well mistaken for some 500 up
turned rifes; and yet he cannot think IL q regi-
ment, for he must be looking down upon scattered
soldiers OF science standing each In his place. but
IN the wide lines reaching from vladivostock, on
the Japan Sea- north latitude 43 deg. mn., to
Kerguelen OF sDesolation Island" south latitude
90 degs., In the Antarctic Ocean, and from Hawaii,
OF the Sandwich group, to Maurltius and the Pun
lab In HindOstan.
THE CORPS OF AMERICAN OBSERVERS
win their stations has been entirely filed up. In
the Northern Hemisphere there viii be three
parties, the chief OF whom are: at vladIvostock,
Professor A. Hall, United States Navy Observatory;
At Nagasaki Tor Yokohama, Professor G. Davidson,
United States Coast Survey and at Pekin Professor
J. G. Watson, oil Michigan University. In the
Southern Hemisphere-at Bluff Harbor, New
Zealand, Professor Hardness. United states Navy
Observatory at Hobart Town, Tasmania, Professor
q. a. +. Peters, OF Hamilton College. New YORK;
IT Crozet Islands, Indian Ocean, Captain Y. w.
Raymond, United States Corps Of Engineers; at
Kerguelen Island, Lieutenant Commanders Ryan
and Train, United States Navy; and at Chatham
Island, indian Ocean, Mr.. E. Smith, OF the United
States Coast Survey.
As each station is to have under its chief an as
sistant astronomer and two photographers. the
whole number OF Americans representing the
Navy, the Army, the Coast Survey ana the profess
s1onal photographer Will be forty. 1t Is understood
that in dlling up the parties the following named
gentlemen also
HAVE RECEIVED APPOINTMENTS
rom the Secretary OF the Navy, viz AS Assistant
Astronomers-W. A. II. Scott United States Coast
Survey; First Lieutenants f. w. Bass and 8. f.
Tllman, United states Engineers and Mr.. Leon
ard Waldo OF Columbia College, New York. As
Chier Pnotographers-D. K Clark, OF Indianapolis ;
". v. Ranger, OF Syracuse; L. seebohm, OF DAY.
ton; d. X Holmes, y. X. SeiDert and W. b. Pyweu,
or Washington, u. c.; J. Moran, OF Philadelphia,
and ]. Pendergrast. Of Boston. AS Assistant Pho
tographers-Messrs. II. F. Williams II. E. Lodge.
W. Bethany, Jr., and George W. Taylor, OF Boston;
Israel Russell, G.J. Rockwell and L. II. Ayme Of
Columbia College, New YORK; W. B. Devereux Of
Princeton College; W. Ii. Churchill, OF Greenwich,
Conn., DIR. Ethan Watson OF st. Joseph, Mich. B.
J. Conrad, OF Ann Arbor; Irwin Stanley, OF Spice
land; 7. s. Tappan, OF Cincinnati, and G. W.
Drejer, OF indianapolis. have been appointed.
The Swatara, II she leaves New York on the LIST
OF June, can land the parties on Kerguelen and
CrOzet islands In ninety days, and thence reach
New Zealand and the other southern stations
within the succeeding two months The ooserv-
ers for the northern stations will not need to leave
San Francisco before the end OF August. The rea-
son for having three parties more in the Southern
Hemisphere than In the Northern is that the me-
genealogical records so far as can be learned, give
much more favorable promise Of fair weather
in tne Northern that three parties there can, prob
ably, do as much good work as can be expected OF
nve In the southern Hemisphere
THE ASTRONOMERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.
3 France will despatch observing parties to st.
Paul's Island. Amsterdam Island, Campbell Island
to Pekin ana Yokohama In the Northern. Ger
many VIII occupy Auckland Island, Macdonald
Island, Bluff harbor, New Zealand, and Maurltius,
and IN tine North a station In China Japan and
In Persia on the telegraph lines. Russia will equip
through her immense territory, twenty-iour sta
tions between Odessa and Japan fifteen OF which
will be In western Siberia, East Russia, and around
the Caspian and Black Seas. British India will
have station IN the Pnnjab, while Lord Lindsay
takes private expedition IRON his observatory at
Donnecht. near Aberdeen Scotland, to the Mau-
ritius. Engand's other chief stations as chosen
by the Astronomer Royal AIRY, are Honolulu,
Hawaii, and Atooi, three on the Sandwich Isles,
increase the chances OF clear sky there Christ
mas Harbor, In Kerguelen Island; Christ Church,
new Zealand and Alexandria,, Egypt, with sta
lions also IN Australia. As to Italy. which has
10 wondrously worked recently to distinction In
science as of old she had 1t III art, we have not
learned what parties go forth, but we know that
the iiustrious Padre Secchi proposes peculiar
adaptation OF the spectroscope TO watch the
planets approach and contact with the sun.
Secchi, Taccnini and other Italians, who form the
s.SocietA Spectrocopstica Italana," are specially
Interested In this transit
Independently OF the outlay OF transportation
BY national vessels and OF the use Oh telegfaphic
land INES and cables, the diferent governments
have literally appropriated the means Tor these
expedlrons We believe the United States have
Sccu Inc MOST nDeTAi. Inc COHiniissioH nppOintcu
BY Congress June 10, 1872 and composed at first OF
ADMIRAL sands, Professor Henry, Professor Pierce,
Professor Newcomb and Professor Hardness, OF the
Uniied states Naval Observatory, and at present
OF Admiral Davis, Professor Henry, CAPTAIN Pat
terson, the new head OF the Coast survey ana the
Two professors named above, are expanding care
uily she appropr OF $150,00O made in 1872.
Inc English have subsidy OF 100000 besides their
h.u rom tne Admiralty and from the two branches
" tne service The Russians ana Germans are
Amss, taer funds largely English, Germans and
xAmeIacahs are In correspondence and complete
IIsImony Win the Russians in their plans. The
rHench 40 not generally work with others.
-. THE EQUIPMENTS.
correct IDEAS OF all the lnstIu mcnts necessary
0r sucn distant work and for their transportation
abroad VIII be had from knowledge OF those to
pc used Dy our American parties. Il is evident on
astronomical work, manly OF the same kind which
- usually done In cur old liked obseryatories at