The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-15
WASHINGTON.
Russia to Build the Biggest Tel
esoope in the World.
OUR FLAG ON THE CONGO.
Decision in the Harper's Ferry
Land Cases.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON. August H. 1872
RUSSIA AMBITIOUS OF HAVING THE BIGGEST
TELESCOPE -pEoFEssog OTTO STRIVES VISIT
TO THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
Professor Otto Strive, the eminent astronomer in
charge of the Russian Observatory at PuGowa. near
st. Petersburg accompanied by his son, Hermano,
has arrived in Washington for the purpose of in.
speeding the United State Naval Observatory and
testing the power of the great equatorial
telescope. The object of his visit to the
United States is to make arrangements
for the construction of telescope for the Russian
observatory. the disk of which shall be up to the
very limit of vision and as large as the firm OF
Avan Clark & Co.. of Cambridge, Mass. can make,
it being the desire of the Russian government to
mount an instrument which will not only put the
Pulkowa Observatory at the head of astronomical
institutions, but which will enable it to maintain
this position for all future time Professor Strive
spent the day at the Naval Observatory and was
called upon this evening by number of CUR prom
inent officials. 1t his purpose to spend the
night the observatory testing the great telescope
but unfortunately the weather was not clear.
thunder storm darkening the heavens until after
midnight In conversation with the representative
OF the HERALD Professor Strive explained the object
of his visit to this country at some length and in
good English. In appearance he reminds one of the
late George Peabody. Though now sixty years
of age he hopes live many years yetat least long
enough to the ambition OF his government fully
attained He said that years ago the late EN-
peror Nicholas expressed the determination to put
the Russian Observatory at the head of astronomical
institutions, and to that end the government had
spent money without stint. The Emperor took
deep interest in the of the observatory and
went SO far as to say that Pulkowa should
be provided that other nation could
hope to excel it, The construction of the great
equatorial telescope for the Washington OBSERVE
tory, with its twenty-six inch disk, clear of the
mountings, was such an advance in the way of
lsrging the power of observation that it became
questionable whether la-ge disk added anything
to the facilities of the astronomer. The lens
at the Russian Observatory only fifteen
inches in diameter. and it has been found,
by careful examination. that there is no in
strument in the European observatories that
excels it and but that equals it. For many years
1t was the largest in the world The Professor said
that he had made the tour OF inspection himself.
had visited every observatory of note in Europe,
and now came the test whether the great telescope
ut the Naval Observatory superior to the in
use at Newcastle, England, and the at Pukowa.
or course he did not doubt its superiority, 'but
what after, said he. sis to carry the size of
the disk to the extreme limit at which it be made
could be cast for grinding which would yield disk
between thirtytwo and thirysix inches. and it is to
make arrangements to fulfill the oft expressed de-
sire of the Emperor Nicholas that he had this
country confer with the celebrated makers of the
naval equatorial telescope. Professor Newcomb was
OF the opinion that glass could be made serviceable
with aperture of thirtysix inches and have
correspondng!y increased power of penetrating
space. Whether the Carkes Will be able to make
such a glass for future consideration. The
rough disk had to be cast in Birmingham or Paris
and that WAS undertaking requiring the greatest
care and skill. for the slightest flaw would make it
worthless. All that he could add that his mis-
sion to the United States agreeable
After spending the time necessary for
his observations here he should proceed to Cam
bridge and If time permitted he hoped be at the
session Of the American Association the Advance
ment OF Science. which meets at Saratoga in the
latter part of this month.
Professor Asaph Hail. III charge of the great tele-
scope kindly afforded the dstingu shed visitor
every facility for using the instrument. As might
be supposed. the scientists of Washington are
somewhat chagrined at the announcement that the
Russian government is making provision to secure
the largest telescope that be made. At present
ours Is the king of astronomical instruments. The
Clarkes are completing disk of the same size for
the Chicago observatory. the mountings OF which
will give increased aperture over the naval
telescope Of one-haf inch. There is some
doubt expressed about the Clarkes' attempting
to make disk OF over thirty inches in diameter in
the clear. and it is understood they would prefer
not to undertake larger glass until such one
has been tested. .n
Tomorrow Professor strive will be presented to
the President. members of the Russian Legation
being here for the purpose of making the presenta-
tion notable feature diplomatic etiquette will
permit