New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-22
ADMIRAL RODGERS ON OBSERVA7ORfES.
THE QUIET BUT VAST INFLUENCE EXERCISED BY
THESE ESTABLISHMENTS on TRAFFIC AND TRAVEL


THE QUIET BUT VAST INFLUENCE EXERCISED BY
THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ON TRAFFIC AND TRAVEL
BY sEA.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO IHR TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-In connection with the
subject of the removal of the Naval Observatory
from its present announcement and unhealthy loca-
ton to a more suitable place the following interest
ing letter upon the Usefulness of Government OBJ
servatOres" has been written by Admiral Rodgers.
superintendent of the Naval Observatory. and for
warded by the Secretary Of the Navy to the Senate
SIR The appropriations for carrying on Greenwich
Observatory appropriations necessary TO England's
maritime greatness II may requisite explain this
European sailors in former times and Chinese sailors
grOpe along the shore running from point to point
anchorng al night, and lost when at sea- BY means OF
observatores enabled to tabuate the motions
and the places of the heavenly bodies. and to calculate
a nautical almanac, which. being published for
some three years in advance OF Its time Of
use, enabled vessels engaged the longest
VOYAGES to have always in possession the accurate
places Of the sum- and stars for every day or the
wear Every time the position OF ship at Is put
upon the chart this position found by observation Of
some heavenly body by the navigator, and made use
full by reference the nautical almanac When fogs or
storms hinder observations the position is computed by
estimation and rough measurement OF speed ana drec
ton from the last celestial observation.
II thus appears that the work OF observatores blends
intimately with modern navigation that cargo can
he exported or brought home except through the agency
of astronomical calculations Astronomy enters into
the price Of every pound OF sugar, cup Of coffee
every spoonful OF tea Astronomy lessons insurance
that vessel do without its repued help for II we
knew that any gwen vessel declined the AID
which astronomy offers in the shape OF tho
nautical almanac such vessel would he refused
insurance, aud the sailors by complaining that Their
lives endangered might have the voyage promo,
tied No wheat, cotton. 40 tobacco can he exeorted
excep under the safeguards OF astronomy No traveller
risks his life upon the without The invisible and
probably unknown guard Of astronomy. No books
from abroad come except under inc pIIteeIon OF as
useful knowledge wishes 10 leave his own shores except
President John Quincy Adams called the heavenly
bodies lighthouses IN The sky The smiie was logically
OF the shoals which threaten his safety or is guided to
his port So by means OF the heavenly bodies he u
or even lead 70 tpwrcck unless their positions Dc
known the heavenly bodies could not he used except
observatories made the iabulaon OF ther places pos
The imports into the United States in 1877 were ia
part sugar. 800 Gs3. s26 coffee S53 634 9el ia Sic
IS1 467 and the total imports amounted S4S20I DO
Exports for the year were, in part, cotton ST.
the total exports. 1855. 637.457. Thus it. will
be that the commerce OF the United states
in a single year. and if the entire commerce of
maritime nations be considered the aggregate yne
aid navigation the charges for fret ht on long voyages
Amounted 10 many times me original cost OF me ahts
by land III former times Is alluded TO III shahespcares
Tempest: .,
Whose stood in their breastsi which we find,
Good warrant Of
This REFERS rs you are Cbefore astronomy had
made iourIeyIng easy and cv) to the chances OF
more than five 10 that the traveller would never
return to CLAIM his pledge. II we take one-irth OF
Shakespeare rate Of Insurance make Il only one
for one the saving would amount 70 the value OF
the things carried Oh, S alone 'oT
have estimated that the rate of insurance with
out the aid Of astronomy, would be one for one,
in proportion as II is But commerce as IT now
exists could have being except for the aids derived
from astronomy. Except for the civiZng influence OF
commerce. except for the atriiion Of ideas resulting
Ing Of sonnder views Of mems relations TO God aud to
fcilowmen the world as 10 IL now could not be-
Pit be borne in mind that without astronomy the
attanabe. Our idea OF India and China would have no
typographical fxity. The sailor would not know when
he near his port nor his place on the earth
That astronomical observations. Therefore, are abso-
proposition which man can deny. There are many
private obseryatories in the United states gene
OF them directed by men Of supreme talents 1t may
asked why these private obseryaores cannot do the
work of Government Observatories These private OBJ
servatoes generally attached TO places OF nsruc-
ton and they devoted rather 10 education than long
often not brilliant one, and not calculated to bring any
great reputation 10 the patient oiler For instance.
professor la the Naval Observatory has been more
Than quarter OF century employed every flir night
when not sick from malaria, In making catalogue Of
the stars in tabulatng their places accurately
star have had their places measured and reeasred
often as 600 tunes. Generally the standard stars
measured more than t%o hundred times. iiis
The tables Of the motions OF the heavens and
the places OF the nTed stars, for pe,tiecpng
warrant Of Charles II. for the erection OF Greenwich
Observatory. The patient. sustained work OF the
intention Of the private observatory and when
the private astronomer urged ny MS genus
and thirst for knowledge. engages IN work ASIDE
from his regular occupation, 10 is more apt 10 be
in fields of discovery or OF astronomical investigation
OF recent facts than In PLAIN poddns tables such
as are old science though new in accuracy Tine
Naval Observatory very remotely means OF educa-
ton aud It's heid does not CLASH WIN the Que III Whicn
private ohservatOres labor The aims OF the two DIFF
ferent their work Is not alike The Government, on
servatory works on old themes the private observatory
0s vscs new ones Both are necessary in the world and
neither be spared Very fortunately only one
f in Is said that The tables far perfected
that observations are not needed, II may be an
swered that the perufatOns ana Irregularities OF the
heavenly bodies not so well known aat their actual
places can be predicted with desirable accuracy. Adj
vances science only prove 10 nan more clearly MS
ignorance. Each step upward IN The tree OF
just beyond MS giasP' ~ surrey, ucI
premature IN astronomy (thc widest ana stbntst hed
o. sccncc 20 declare that have oiled enough aud
have 80 ucary reached the end that NOR labor were IN
vain In Europe not only do governments Keep up old
building new ones shall We throw ourselves
Tie charity OF EdiOpc for the knowledge necessary
our maritime SUGGEST ,,,
tn OF ObservatOrics than their mere money Vaue
of rnting crOnomeers for the navy, anu drop
ping time ball rs well for general commerce as Tor
naval uge. leave untouched how the observatory Tell
naturally az las INCEPTION under the direction ot th'
Navy department, amt Why ~ proper To retain its re-
All thOsc fhiloh nave lti
have already written too mu-h. The work OF obserya
tories falls upon the world tho silent dew falls upon
The earth. NNiiylug bat unseen except III It's effects.
In conclusou tue warrant OF King Charles for The
erection OF Greenwich Observatory wise. The gen
temeu who advised him Dulded better than they knew.
Can our Government afford 10 bc less enlightened than
hja of TWO hundred years agOf Must rather proper
stems taken this great national institution upon
a healthy basis as well OF site as oi rnancef
Very respectfully your obedeDt servant,
JOHN RODGERS, ReaT-Adonral u. s. y.
The Hoa. T. ". Thompson, Secretary Of the Navy.
Washington, ID. Z.