New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-08

different points as can be made and giving directions
by which those who wish to cooperate with the ODSerV
tory can 90 so to the best advantage The instrumental
equipment necessary to render the work OF anna
seryiceabe to the requirements OF the OBSERVE
tory comprises telescope OF not less than three Inches
aperture with magnifylng power of not less than
ninety diameters a chronomeer or good clock hay
ing a seconds pendulum, and transit instrument Ut
scxant for determining the errors of the tmepiece'
The correct observation of the transit OF Mercury 49,
according Professor NewcOmD OF eSHcal hportance
as aordng data which viii be decisive Of the question
whether the assumption OF Leyerrer, that the motion
CT the perholon Mercury is much greater than ha'
due to the action Of the known planets really correct
Information is also expected to be obtained respecting
several questions of less general moment go
The preparations made at the Observatory Tor thls
occasion for work Of a more exact ana soichino O"
ae;er than can be xpecel from amateurs may DC p'!
described as follows Professors Hardness ana Last
NON of f,e staff of the Observatory, viii be
seut 10 some point in the West not yet hXed' elch
equipped with fye-;uch telescope ana the proper ln-
strumenta accomplishments Tor recording ther opseVa
irons with exactness. obeliographs-instrumens
used in celestial photography-will be sent TO ITO
lessor Pickering, at the Harvard College Obser-
yatory aud Professor Watson at Ann Alpot'
Mich A third will be shipped TO Ogden, Utah'
10 DO placed in charge OF DE-. ANDRE the ffcHc'
astronomer, VINO recently came TO TINS country
on behalf of his Government TO observe the coming
OF
ton at the Observatory here. From each OF them my
nressions are TO be taken at stated intervals during
thc seven hours which will elapse while the planet IS
in transit aud the plates to be forwarded To WASH
ngton for comparison with each other ana measurement
nv the delicate instruments and processes in use by thc
Government astronomers The results when found VIII
he 1uMshed for tho use of astronomers everywhere.
Another coming evcntthe total eclipse OF the sun on
tc Goth of Juyhas astronomers ala interest greater
9ep Than that OF the transit of Mercury. Scarcely one
opporuni,y occurs in lifetime so favorable 10 tHe
studv Of some Of the most interesting pAenomha WIN
which astronomy has to deal. Yet nothing mas oeen
done 10 take ADVANTAGE OF it. The path OF toanS o
this eclipse runs diagonally across the centre oi c
United States from Montana 10 Texas, ana Is between
1oo and $50 miles wide Many OF the best poin's Tor
are directly accessible by railroad
cxpeditions might be equipped and sent TO as hl"u!
different points with Only fraction OF the onlA! OIou
made by European nations in single expeditions or s"
liar purposes Admiral John Rogers the superintendent
Of the Nava: Observatory speaking TO correspondent
of THE TRIBUNE upon tine importance Of TINS matter
said that Of all the opportunities which all tue
astronomers OF the world get for observing such
eclipses does not exceed five six hours III century
Recent discoveries have rendered 1t probable
that many ii all of the great meteorological
changes going on upon the earth caused by events
taking place upon the sun and many questions relating
TO the ply steal constitution of that oro. and the
changes there taking place only be studied during
total eclipse. All the principal Governments OF the
world continued the Admiral recognize the importance
of observing the cclpses by sending out costly cNpcd
lions for the purpose which 20 the very antipodcs
when necessary ana had there not been impression
abroad that our Government would make ample proyis
ion for the study OF phenomena Of such general interest
and visible almost exclusively within bordors, IL
would been arranged, doubtless, tlHi expeditions
for the purpose should come here from Euruic.
In his estimate for the support Of the Navy Dspar
Inent for the next fiscal year. the Secretary asked Con
gress to appropriate - 600 for the purpose OF making
observations OF the coming eclipse. The requcstwas
companied By letter from Admiral Rogers setting forth
seryatcTy wish 20 conduct the operations u was de
siTCl 10 send two expeditions 10 Montana, tWO
10 Texas, two to Colorado and one 10 wyoming
Each to consist OF three ASTRONOMERS, ana
travelling expenses and tho cost Of TRANSPORTING
their instruments. They to be absent about TWO
weeks, time would be necessary - establish
properly their temporary ObEcINdtOGles No estimate
was made for the salaries the eminent
incrs would gladly volunteer sucn an occasion. \
second letter from Admiral Rogers 10 the Chair
OF tho House Appropriations committee
set forth the Importance to the advancement
OF Astronomical knowledge Of measures Tor on-cfNlug
the coming eclipse. Ii is claimed that this letter was
mis- and aud that sufficient reason was presented 10
item was slicaen ont hr. Cymer, VINO had the Naval
BIZ IN charge In the House, says that 20 HOSTILITY
was manifested in tho committee To tue Item III
question and should it hc added by the senate a.
with no opposition 10 the House TAc BIN has already
been considered bv the Senate committee, aud now
awaits It's turn senate calendar.
II not too late add the item "a m amendment nor
10 introduce special BAH tor the purpose II any senator
or Representative fad time to convince himself OF
its inheritance.