Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-04
The Proposed New Observatory.

1he bill pending in the committee of the
whole of the House of Representatives looking
to the removal of the Naval Observatory
directs the President to appoint, by and with
the advice and consent Of the Senate, a com
mission, consisting of three persons, one of
colonel OF engineers, and one chosen from
clvi. life, whose duty it shall be to select site
Wlthln the District of Columbia, for the U. S.
lively the advantag ges of healthfulness, clear
ness, ness ot atmosphere, convenience OF access
aadyantages as may be found expedient, and
70 report fully thereon, including estimates of
tne total expense of said site and the removal
o. .ne observatory, to the present session Of
congress: Proctded, hoacever, That no men,
per OF said commission shall be, directly or
indirectly, interested, for himself or for any
Other person; in any property to be selected as
q site for said Observatory. The commission
from the owners of fand deemed fit tito for such Su a
ste, etc, and consider and report upon the
pIS9pTrlety and expediency of disposing of the
best and most advantageous method of selling
the same, and the probable sum which may be
realized therefor.
REPORT OF THE HOUSE NAVAL COMMITTEE.
The naval committee in their report say
that they have carefully investigated the sub
Ject, and have reached the conclusion that the
many reasons, unsuited to the uses of the in
SStltution, and that new location and new
buildings should be provided at the earliest
practicable moment: The sanitary condition
IS daily growing worse. Frequent eases of
malarial fever have occurred, especially
among those who are engaged in the duties of
observation at night. The miaSmas from the
adjacent marshes, which increase in intensity
with the increase of impure deposits. have be
come SO dangerous as to render it imprudent
10 reside there constantly The fOgs from the
river hang about the shores, and are often SO
dense as to render observation impossible,
while the heights north of the city are free
from that great disadvantage. The improve
mentS In the streets OF the city have been
made up to the observatory grounds, where
they have terminated, and are left in an un-
finished and unsightly condition To grade
and adapt the grounds to the city improve
ments; so st0 make their condition even re
large sum of money. The buildings are
in dilapidated and ruinous condition
The completion OF the plans for the improve
the elevation on which the observatory stands,
and the use OF the material to fill up the low
and malariOuS grounds next to the river. And
It's It IS question whether this work should not
welfare of the inhabitants and residents ofthe
city. Your committee have thought it wise to
provide in the bill that new site, when Sc
lected, shall be secured by the government
tions and thatkthe commissions Fshall consider
no location unless the owner or owners shall
accompany any offer of sale with obligations
to convey to the United States whenever the
ofier IS accepted. They have also deemed it
wise to secure entire impartiality ON the part
OF the commission. 1t has also been Thought
wise to, require the said commission to ascer
tain and report to Congress as to the prOpriety
of disposing of the old grounds, the method Of
Offering the same for sale. and the probable
sum which may be realized therefor They
therefore recommend the passage of the ac-
companylng Oil as a substitute to the Senate