Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29
The New observatory.

The New Observatory.
WANT OF HARMONY IN THE COMMIssIoN-DIF-
FERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO CONGaESSMHE
AND THE ADMIRAL
By an act of Congress recently passed, Sena-
tor Why te. of Maryland. Representative Morse,
OF Massachusetts,, and Admiral Rodgers. of the
navy. were created commission TO select a
site for the proposed new naval observatory.
The New York Herald, the other day, among its
Washington dispatches. contained an
ATTACK UPON MEsSRS. wHYTE AND MORSE,
charging In effect that they were trying to
make a monumental job out Of the affair. The
OF course desires the site to be the f1tteSt posi-
BILE from scientific point OF view, and the
architect to be man OF established reputation.
Messrs. Morse and Whyte have, 1t seems. quite
other views They began by naming two archi-
tects, one from Boston, the other from Balti-
more. both alike unknown to fame and un-
tory, and the poor admiral has to take his
choice of these two and none others, for MeSsrS
Morse and Whyte are able of course, to vote
down any other man. But now comes the Sc
Importance, for If the observatory Is placed on
ground which trembles even from passing trains
or vehicles the extreme accuracy needed in as
trcnOmical observations become impossible. AG-
rdinglythe officers OF the observatory have been
engaged for many months In careful and trou-
blesOme observations to test the SuitableneSS
in this regard Of the various places offered to
the commission. 1t was reasonably supposed
that on this point, at least, MeSsrs. Whyte and
Morse would accept the report OF Admiral
Rodgers as final and not TO be questioned. But
IL has become known that even on this point
these two commissioners threatened to OutvOte
the admiral. They are reported to have agreed
on site near the Soldiers Home, which accu-
rate official observations have already shown
TO be Unfit for the purpose. as 1t is subject to
tremors from passing vehicles, and which,
therefore, is totally unsuitable for the objects
OF an observatory. If the two Congressman
insist on their view there ought to be an inquiry
IN the House or Senate by some friend of sci
ence as TO the reasons for such gross mtScon-
duct. The new Observatory ought to stand for
century or two. IC cannot be moved every
1st or May, and Congress intended that It
should be placed in the best situation for its
purpose and that 1t should be constructed by
architects whose established reputation should
be guarantee OF good, proper and lasting
work Both these objects are likely to be de-
feated.'
WHAT SENATOR wHYTE SAYS.
A reporter OF THE STAR showed the Herald
dispatch to Senator Whyte, and asked him
what truth there was In it. After reading it
carefully, he said that the entire article was
tinued, 'there Is just a coloring of truth Ia it.
We have really not done anything yet. We
nave held several meetings, and talked over the
plans and various sites proposed, but we have
all secret; there was not even clerk or secre-
tary present at either OF them. and therefore
this article In the Hp1'a1d must have been In
splred by Admiral Rodgers himself. The truth
is, that MI: Morse aud myself have views In re-
gard to the location of this naval OBJ
ServatOry, which we are not willing to
surrender at the. dtctation OF Others That
IS the Cause OF this complaint. Mr.. Morse and
hold that the new observatory should be
erected somewhere near the city, upon a com
mnanding man spot and accessible, so that citizens
" washington may enjoy going there and looking
!hrough the telescope. The people must payy
for the observatory, and we want 1t where it
VIII do them some good. The ob5ervatories In
Ifalo
the professors and others OF the observatory
want the new building buried In some obscure
spot way out the other side of Georgetown
because Ii will be convenient to their residences
Every site that does not please the professors is
condemned by them upon some pretext or
other. Now out there towards the Soldiers Home
are several sites, but these professors say they
VIII not do because carriages going over the
bridge there and along Whitney avenue would
sha Ike the building. We listened to and accepted
tnelr opinions as against several sites, but the
ldea that passing carriages would shake large
building upon soldld foundation was most too
1limsy, and Morse and myself simply proposed
10 investigate 1t. Mr. Morse has been appointed
SUB committee to get the very lowest figures
at which the several sites viii be offered for
sale, and that is all we have done. We have not
voted upon the selection of either and for nv
par, cannot say how shall vote until all the
Iacts are before me. Admiral Rodgers named
Dis architect at the same time that Morse and /
named ours. We have not Selected either
an ana the plans OF all are now before the board.
proposed by Admiral Rodgers for more than a
year. He is Washington man, and it is QUITE
likely that shall vote to accept him. though I
cannot say definitely yet. Mr.. Morse and my
SELF were appointed by Congress to represent
the Interests OF tse country. We realize our
responsibility to the public. and intend to dis
charge our duty TO the best OF our ability We
90 not seek TO dictate. nor are we willing TO he
dictated TO. Ii there Is any job attempted. it is
not on our side. can say that for myself
Shall not be bulldoZed by naval officials or news
papers into doing violence to my Judgment in
this matter. i do not believe In the theory OF
tremors from passing vehicles but Will investi.
gate all these questions before voting finally
INDIAN MASSACREs.-A large band of Indians
is reported in the North Park, on the Michigan
river, w. T. Two men, named Carr and Dow.
are supposed to have been murdered by them
IL Is said that Ouray and Chepeta fnterfered In
person and prevented the massacre of the
Bradbury party OF proSpectors in Colorado. 1t
Is not positively known, however, whether they
nave since been murdered
= = hh canada STRIKERS.-One hundred steve
0oIes C at Montreal went - work on the steamer
-, S,eSAn ssS THURSDAY on the old terms, but were
3HuoSs1uGTaIiy HaoS1 driven on by the strikers. At
aes anoasel L'ue docks the strikers also made