The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16
LOCKYLR'S SOLAR DISCOVERIES.
Interesting We've OF Leading
American Scientists.
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
Deliberative Judgment Reserved
for the Present.


man Lockyer. the HERALD yesterday sent represent
alive to wait upon the professors of chemistry of
allied branches in the three chief academic nstitu-
tons of this cyColumbia College the University OF
New York and the College of the City of New York As
might be expected, these distinguished gentlemen had
read with great interest the several publications in
the HERALD upon this subject, and were unan-
imous in regarding the subject as one OF the
utmost Importance but there was not the
same agreement in regard to the merits OF
Mr.. Lockyer's announcement. The prevailing
opinion was in favor the ultimate simplicity and
unity of matter which Mr. Lockyer Claims to have
proved but tho professors all inclined TO re-
serve their opinions until they should receive fuller
details Of the experiments Of the English spec
troscopist. and some complaint was made Of the
length OF time which has been allowed to pass before
giving TO the world sufficient data upon which to
base opinion. This complaint. of course. referred
only to the discovery announced in November to the
French Academy of Sciences and which was the sub
ject of paper read to the Royal Society on De-
cember 10. of which only abstract has yet been
given to the public even by Mr.. Lockyer's own
paper entitled Mature" Something, too, was said
in depreciation of Mr. Lockyers haste in announc-
ing his conclusions in advance of the record of his
experiments, whereas the opposite course would
have obtained greater approval
DR. WILLIAM DRArERs OPINION.
In a large lecture room the second floor Of the
University of New York the veteran Professor J. W.
Draper found yesterday morning, just after dis
missing his class. He is stout. ruddy gentleman.
apparently nearing his SEVENTEEN year, and entered
upon the subject of the interview with great ANNA
ton. The question of the constitution of the ec-
ments he said, had occasionally occupied his aten-
ton for just fifty years, and for just forty years he
had been teaching chemistry in that room, in which
he had made many experiments intimately connected
with the subject hand Dr. Draper well remembered
the absorbing interest with which he and other
students at the University of London had followed,
in 1922 the experiments of their instructor in chem
istry Professor Edward Turner, author of well
known textbook. theory had then been promul-
gated that the atomic weights of all the elements
we're exact multpes of that of hydrogen and if this
theory had proved correct would have led directly
to hypothesis similar to the present one of
Lockyer Professor Turner made crucial test the
element selected being chlorine; but after the
most careful trial its atomic weight proved to be not
multiple of that of hydrogen. DIR. Draper has
very little doubt of the ultimate unity of matter
and consequently of the composite character of the
elements but cannot that Mr.. Lockyer has yet
advanced any decisive proof to that effect. He is firm
believer in the reality of the discovery OF oxygen in
the sum- announced two years ago by his son. Professor
Henry Draper, discovery which has an intimate re-
lation to Mr.. Lockycr's theories and las been
tested by the latter gentleman. Dr. Draper recog-
nized the great importance OF Professor Crovas al
legged discovery of spectroscopic method of deter
mining the fusion point OF the 80 called elements as
announced in the HERALD of January y.
but upon this point, also. he suspends
his judgment uutil further details Upon the
value of Professor Cfooke's researches tend
ing to prove An "ultra-gaseous state Of matter.
DR.. Draper expressed decidedly favorable opinion
innsnuch as Professor Crookes produced not merely
his conclusions but his actual experiments before
the Royal Society. 1t should, however, not be for
gotten twenty years ago Professor Joseph Henry,
in OF lectures. OF which Synopsis was pub
Iishcds advanced the hypothesis OF such state of
termed "etlpr1ll.'s
ceents OF the science OF specroscopy Dr. Draper ex
iabors in the HERALD articles. aud pointed out in
volume of his collected Scientific Memoirs" New
York Harper \ Brothers, ls.s, in the very first
dations of Red Hot Bodies; The Production
Of Light by Heat psa3 a an Illustration s i,
spectra of daylight and OF incandescent platinum ut
different temperatures, ranging from 1o95 degrees to
2130 degrees The difference was more than 300 per
rent. This discovery. Dr. Draper claims, rendered
possible the science OF spectroscopy. aud Dr. Draper
has already alleged in print that these results which
formed the bases of III. Kirchhofs fundamental
Memoir on the Relation Between the Coeflicents of
Emission and Absorption OF Bodies FOR Light and
Heat were appropriated without any adequate
knowledgment by NJ. Kirchhof under the guse of
moir on the history of this subject he passed them
without notice. While the conversation being
concluded Professor Henry Draper the dscoverer of
oxygen in the sun. came into the lecture room and
took part i'll the discussion
PROFESSOR HENRY DRAPEB's OPINION.
Professor Henry Draper is gentleman of little
more than forty years of age. who has been for
eighteen years professor OF analy chemistry in
the University and who last the organizer of
the famous expedition to Colorado to observe the
total solar eclipse. The younger professor
emphatic than ms father IN his expressions of mere
dulity i'll regard to Mr. Lockycrs claims; but he did
not desire to fully into tue subject. inasnuch as
handsomely of Mr.. Lockyer cstinaile GENTLE
man. whom they have had the pleasure OF welcoming
at their honcs but their doubts as TO the value Of
his discoveries are too deeply rooted to be dis
PEELED by any thing but the coinplctest evidence.
There is a radical difference of opinion between Mr..
rnrfd Hem Dram tirfpt
latters discovery of oxygen in the and respect
ing OF the most important results Of the eclipse
PRESIDENT pAnHARD's OPINION.
Rev DIR. I. a. p Barnard. president OF Columbia
Colege ana oflcer OF the Legion oil Honor, was
found in his oHce in the main college building He
was very much occupied with pile of hanuscritt.
but kindly consented 70 give audience to the HERALD
representative DR.. Barnard bad read the earlier
publications about Mr.. Lockyer's alleged discoveries.
but had not seen the telegram OF January 49, After
CHANGING rapidly through II he said:-"we all know
that the spectra of the elements vary at different
Temperatures. but do not know that the yaria on
is due to association" Dr. Barnard thought the
telegram failed TO give sufficiently definite state
announces. and, like several other scientists. COM
planned OF that gcntcman's haste in announcing his
conclusions before giving the facts upon which they
based II may confidently be stated that Pres
ident Barnard, though by no means conservative
n science. will maintain the Old doctrine OF the elc
ncits until he sees much stronger evidence against
Il than has yet been presented.
PROFESSOR CHARLES y. cHANprERs OPINION.
Dr.. Charles +. Chandler. professor OF analytical
chemistry in the School of Mines of Columbia Col
lege, was found at his Office in that building. He
much occupied with the sugar question TO
have much time to spere and had not the
1EnALDs cable despatch. After readrg IL he sa.d
that analytical chemist he had not paid
especial attention TO spectroscopy, but he had no
hesitation in saying that itwould require strong
evidence to convince him OF the tru tn MIR. Lock
yer's hypothesis The elements" present them
selves daily TO Professor Chandler in their most sub
startia form and lie is at all inclined to believe
they be changed one INTO another. IN under
stood that the opinion Of Professor Ogden ~ Rood.
who has charge of the department OF mcc hanics aud
physics, IL substantially the same that OF Pro-
lessor Chandler. DR.. John s. Ncwberry professor of
geology, Ia absent the Pacific coast; hence his
opinion cannot be known
PROFESSOR JOHN DRAPER SUPPORTS LocKyEn.
In the person OF Dir. John Christopher Draper pro-
fossor OF natural history IN the College of the City
OF New York, the HERALD representative at last found
scientist who had good word 60 say for Mr. Lock-
yer Professor Draper had copy OF the HERALD
I'M L..l Lll atal M