New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-12
THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
COMPLAINTS AS TO ITS MANAGEMENT-DANGER THAT
THE WORK OF THE OBSERVATORY WILL BE AN
OBJECT OF RIDICULR.

COMPLAINTS AS TO ITS MANAGEMENT-DANGER THAT
THE WORK OF THE OBSERVATORY WILL BE AN
OBJECT OF RIDICULE.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON. Feb. ia number of scientists
throughout the country are using Jhcir
influence to change the system OF man
agement of the Naval Observatory and to
bring about a restoration of the condition of
affairs which they say existed previous to the adj
vent of Vice. Admiral Row an as superintendent.
Petitions have been received and laid before Con
gress from many universities and colleges in tho
country and many letters have been received in re
lation to the matter. The following letter from
Professor Otis H. Robinson, professor of mathe
mates in the Rochester University, to Congressman
Van Vocrhis describes the view taken by these
men:
Ihave taken time toverffy my ats so that may make
mistake in what am about to say. tg0es WIN
out saying that efficiency observatory where long
continued and exact observations and high nathemat-
ical calculations are TO he made, requires natural ca
pacty aId technical training. The superintendent or
the observatory since 1861 have been Captain Glllss
and Rear Admials Davis, Sands and john kodSeTs
whose names among the most distinguished IN tne
line of the Navy. They were also men O goOd sciehc
attalnments, large experience ana Dioad views ChHer
their management the system inaugurated by Gls5 mas
conducted In accordance WIN the CONCLUSIONS
by the scientific corps assembled as beard uhdcr the
direction Of the superintendent THIS system worked
admirably and under II the observatory has become one
OF the most famous in the world.
revolution has taken place The observatory seems now
two of the scientific corps utterly unknown aN scien-
tc man and destitute Of observatory experience In
spite of disadvantages he has taken charge OF the
mural circle, the transit Instrument, the prime
vertical transit instrument, nine-and one h9ii
inch equatorial. the comet seekcr-in short or all the
instruments in the observatory except the trds clrce
ohseryafions made with them by ncutenants even less
experienced than himself AT present there are ten OF
placed under the scientific corps for Instruction
but expected TO pursue complicated ana delicate
methods by intuition The scientific corps Is no longer
allowed any voice I'm the management OF the Institution
Indeed they have even been prevented ir1m making
which cannot he remedcd The condition of the work
seems to he simply this inexperienced men are making
worthless observations at the expense o the iaClI'ies
which trained men Of long experience and honorahe ser
vice would be glad TO but are not permitted II
this on, the observatory which now Mods hsn IA
among the obseryatores Of the world will very soon be
object OF ridlculc among scientific men us reports Oh
WORK done nave peen nhSluctht . /! .il' liz - '
will be a disgrace. understand that the supeflncnd-
II his policy 10 continue III TINS way ana
even worse For many years number OF cI iIas my
been connected with the observatory rs trained assist
ants the Observers and also trained conuters Inc
proprety OF having fuch nch chloyeu s1,"l ',I @ n
the advantage of that facility and accuracy winch come
able the higher work of organizing and leading one
would think could not he questioned But Wee Admiral
sistants In the estimates for the coming year
their salaries left out He says that policy OF re
form has been adopted In the Navy, part Oi which 10
replace all the civilians al the observatory by line o-
GERS ON the averaee the officers VIII serve at tnc o-
zeal work in that way. Every scientific man In the
rnmnTy viii feel disgraced by sucl work Besides
building l. soon 20 be erected and fitted up Unless
there change effected In some way the scenlhc stan
are not likely have voice or Influence III t7 Wok
which OF all things requires experience. mistake
made here Il Will be almost impossible 10 cOrrect
probably IL is. TO have the observatory
attached the Department OF the Navy; hut IL i not
best from any point Of view to have 1t place merely TO
furnish easy 6crths young eutcnants who happen 10
have influential friends know several Of the scientific
stan some OF them well and am sure from their stat
Inents and what | IN the papers that something
should be done 10 the scientific management