New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-17

RIDE TO NOTHING HIGHER THAN PARTY POLL
TICS, TREATS AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC INsIITU-
TON.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, July I6.--The commission provided
for at the last session of Congress, consisting Of
Commodore Ammen. General Barnard and Mr.
Leonard Whitney, TO select q site for the Naval
Observatory held its first meeting yesterday. Only
O brief discussion Of preliminaries and of the form
of an advertisement for tho newspapers took place.
and the commission adjourned until to-day.
The resolution under which these gentlemen are
acting requires them. in addition to selecting new
cite for the observatory, TO consider the best
method Of dlsposing of the grounds upon which the
institution is now located, and TO submit to Con-
gress plans for the new buildings No money Is APP
propriated for expenses, aud the architects who
have been asked to draw plans are trying to find
out how they are to beVaid for their labors.
The parsmOny and neglect with which this re-
nowned institution has been treated by Congress
for many years IS disgrace to the Nation and the
age. The Naval Observatory is the wOrking-place
OF men whose names are hOnoTed IN every land, and
the results Of whose labOrs are sought wherever
civilization has foOthold. The late Padre Secchi,
the eminent Italian astronomer, In the last memoir
from his pen ranked the Washington Observatory
only third in Importance among similar institutions
In the world. A recent German publication OF the
International Astronomical Society devoted TO a re-
view of the discoveries made by the different OBJ
servatOries in the world, gives more space 20 the
work of the Washington astronomers than TO those
of any other institution except the one at Pukoya,
in Russia which is the best endowed and most COM
plete astronomical establishment on the continent
of Europe The present buildings Of the Naval OBJ
servatory are twostOry bnck structures Of no par
a. ~ huf tal an
tai air by reason Of the two mosque-like domes
which shelter the big telescopes. There is tawdry
loudness in the colOring and Ornamentation of the
group which betrays the poverty of the establish
ment while seediness and decay pictured In all
the surroundings The grounds, once beautiful and
extensive, are brushy and uBkempt and the
walks and drives are worn by travel and gull
lied by rains. The pretentous ornamental
fence which marks the limits of the grounds Is
broken, and in many places has disappeared. just
outsde In all directions the hill has been cut away
to open up new avenues, leaving an unsghtly land
scape of mud and sand banks, alternating with ash
heaps and puddles.
Between the observatory and the Potomac lies a
swamp from which fogs arise that seriously inter
fere with the work of observation during many
nights Of the Spring and Summer monthsj and to
tbese mssmatic influences the professors, who are
patiently working the great scientific problems
which engage the attention of astronomers are con.
stantly subjected. Frem this cause they are more
or less inoapactated, aud even one death among
III I'm has been attributed directly 10 the unhealth-
fuIness of the place.
Admiral Rodgers, kindlyhaced weather-hard-
ened old mariner In showing visitor over the place
last week called attention to of the nconven-
fences and drawbacks under which the institution
is laborng. Pointing TO some otlthe bricks seemingly
ON the point Of tumbling out, he kicked them into
| place. and then he waved his hand toward copper
pipe intended 20 carry rainwater from the roof,
when portion of 10 disappeared like burnt paper
| an fine dust "What do You think Of the commits
sion ~ asked his visitor IL YOU should 60 to 9
| hotelp replied the Admiral, Ito order breakfast
the price of beefsteak, the act would BIO step IN