, 1875-10-03
DUB OBSERVATORY.

Tho Dearborn Observatory is now in good
working order, the money raised BY subscription
q few months ago having been judiciously ex-
pended in rebuilding portion Of the structure,
in reftting the telescopes, and in other work
rendered necessary by the fact that the inst:tu-
ton and it's instruments had lain idle for sever
al years. It is now one Of the best-appointed
Obscrvatories On the Continent and prepared to
commence career Of usefulness when permit
ted to do so- The magnificent "equatoaal,
which only few years ago WIS the largest in
the world, is ready to scour the heavensin search
of nsw objects, and to find ont new facts about
objects the existence Of which ia already known.
The fine transit instrument is ready to re-
sumo the work Of cataloguing the stars,
and furnishing the correct time daily for the use
Of scientists aud businessmen. 4 wire has
bsen laid connecting the Observatory clock with
one in the city, which pulsates with the meas
ured tick Of the time-piece every minute in the
twsnty-four hours, recording accurately the fight
Of time; and fne chronogrsph has been Sc
cured for mechanically recording the instant at
which stars Cross the meridian. All has been
done that could be done with the funds :. the
disposal Of the Astronomical Society, and the
Dearborn Observatory is place in which the
people Of Chicago may and should feel pride
equal to that taken In reviewing our progress in
the commercial world.
We hare said that the Observatory il prepared
to enter On . career OF usefulness It is only
partially useful as yet Before it can fulfill its
miaaion it must be endowed. There il at pre8-
ent no money in the treasury Of the Astronom-
ical Society with which to pay current expenses
OF warming and lighting, to say nothing Of pro-
viding for tho work Of scientific research The
Observatory is now open only on two evenings Of
the week, for the entertainment Of Subscribers
to the fund, tho Secretary Of the Society Civ
ing that much time to the taak, in the hope Of
inducing others to swell the ranks OF member
ship and the e1chequer. But this cannot always
Last, md it is not desirable that it should.
The Observatory ought to be conducted by tho
best procurahle talent, which should be fairly
compensated, as in other institutions OF the
kind The present arrangement il only OF tho
makeshift order,-the best possible under the
but far from what it ouS Sht to be.
The entire time of two men, and not the leisure
moments Of one, should be devoted to the use OF
the instruments at the Observatory, which are
now chiefly employed at intervals to crafty Gu
riosity, and not to increase our knowledge OF
nr,a coo;ot,- ta. rr,7.-+sto, y, r.;ao an en-
ao1-n.nt f,na - an, mn ~ This nnrnoao
=. $500 ,;,t1a .,-orr-osa j., that d;rac;;on 40
- rto st .-.,;ta % ~ a+,o-+ liz h.fo-a no ~
',ss x.,,an;n.< saa,,1a,,+ a;,naa hv . rnan,har ~
49, n..-a - sr.a3o ,.t,a doa, w.. .-;.h - hava
bis name mentioned in print:
Tho undersigned hereby ogreea to pay to the Endow
ment COMMITTEES Of Tie Chicago Astronomical Society
the SUM Of o either n sasa On 9 osAhu o. y y
ner cert ner annurn' payable annually in advance
For $500 subscribed the donor shs be entitled to
n1me one hs - ts oetx anu Lifted fsith fsijy 70
the use Of The Observatory on each Tuesday and
Thursday evening: s,.u-...to,, .,,n +. ,n. .na ,,.
op n0e nneaa sneh m sot sha BE- made up On or b.
fore tho 1st day Of April, 1875.
The gentleman here referred to states that he
considers this to be simply bet on his part that
there is not public spirit enough in Chicago to
subscribe the amount OF $5o,ooo "1tnln the time
49,. o.,,o+ -, ~, o.1tad ,,-,,y fo-+he
~. ~ =. ho,,od 49, ha v;11 ha ro;u-
....as % n.,a.. ourh. ~ Ia anoro,, annrac,,t;o,