The National tribune., 1884-08-14
THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY

THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
II a very Just reproach upon the United
States that il has done so little for the advance
snent of abstract science. There are no people
in the world so fond Of science as the Ameri-
can and vet our Government has done almost
nothing toward patronizing scientific men, OF
expending money in research. Outside of the
polar expeditions, the Smithsonian Institute,
and the experimenting in the Agricultural
Bureau. the main scientific work at the Gov
ernment's expense is that done by the Naval
Observatory in this city. This does not owe
its existence to any love of pure science, for
Congress more than once, IN approprlatlng Tor
it, repudiated all intention in that direction,
and contemplated doing nothing more than
provide depot for charts and instruments"
The depot" was originally little wooden
building, put up before our last war with
Great Britain, on a tract Of l9 acres of public
ground. which has historic interest as being
the spot on which Braddock landed when COM
ing to America on his ill-fated expedition and
the camping ground for Gen. Winder's forces
before that worthless old Maryland aristocrat
ran away from Bladensburg with them and
let the British burn Washington. In spite of
all disc0uragements, enthusiastic students Of
astronomy kept the scientific work alive until
1888. when Lieut.. Gilliss, of the Navy, sue
ceeded in getting a fair appropriation from
Congress to do some work necessary for the
South Sea explorations. Lieut.. Gilliss did much
very fine work, and the arrival of some i'm
portant comets, and the great public interest
they excited. helped him with Congress so that
he got enough money to bnild suitable build
ings and equip them with fair instruments.
Lieut. C. T. Maury succeeded him. and won
fame for himself and the Observatory by his
studies Of ocean currents. BY the time the
war ended the Observatory had got to be so
important an institution that Admirals and
Rear -Adnirals sought and obtained appoint
ment as Superintendents. Admirals Davis,
Sands. Rogers, Rowan, and Shnfeldt were IN
succession Its SuperintendentS. Now Com
modore Franklin discharges those duties He
is assisted by large staff Of naval officers, and
another of scientific men of high standing in
astronomical circles. at the head of these
latter is Prof Hail. who came to the 0bserva-
tory % wears ago from Howard University
Observatory. He has special charge of the
double stars and the satellites of Jupiter and
Saturn. Next to him is Prof Hardness, who
is now devOting himself, and viii probably do
so Tor several years TO come, TO reducing the
transit of Venus observations of 1882. Prof
Eastman and a staff of observers has charge of
the transit circle observations and the noting
the time Of the passage Of celestial bodies
across the meridian. Ar. Frisbie Professor of
Mathematics, and Commander Sampson devote
themselves to comets and asteroids. Prof
Brown and Iieuts. Pendleton, Bowman, and
nometeFs. etc. 4 mild form of the discipline
of the Navy is maintained in the institution.
The Observatory has several superb instru-
ments but its special pride is its great equa-
torial telescope, which is the largest in the
world. 1t has an object-glass 26 inches in di-
ameter, and tube % feet long. 1t weighs six
tons and cost $4,000. The building in which
1T stands cost $4,000 more.
THE GUNS FOR TIE STEEL CRUISERS
Navy Yard is the construction of the steel can
non for the new cruisers. About 300 men are
employed in the ordnance department, the
main work of which at this time is these guns
They OF four sizes, five, six, eight and 10
inch bore, and II feet six inches I5, 20 and &c
feet long. The process through which these
weapons pass before completion is very compli-
Gated The forged shafts are prepared away
from here and brought TO the Yard Ia rough
state. The two larger sizes are imported from
Europe and ceme rough-bOTed and turned
The others are sent here in the rough from the
AIidVofe Steel Works of Pennsylvania, and are
rough-bored and turned in the shops of the
Yard. after which they are returned TO The
works 10 be "oil tempered - without which
they would be liable to burst. They are theI
returned here and still have to undergo yari
ons processes before being placed on the YES
sels. very strict account is kept of the cos
Of each gun, every mans time being charged
10 the gun he is engaged On, and the cost OF thu
material and handling being also accurately
computed. This cost is then added TO the ne
weight of the completed weapon, so that thi
cost per pound can be found to the fraction O
cent
THE INDIAN TERRITORY IETRUDERs.
The Government is about to take Yigorou
action in regard 10 the intruders on the Indial
reservations in those portions of the Territor,
known ar the Oklahoma Land, the Cherokee
Strip and the Pan Handle Several companie
Of troops VII enter the Territory and remov
al persons found IN the above tracts, the mum
Der Of settlers there being estimated at 200C
The men viii be turned over TO the Unites
States Marshal IN whose district the intruder
are found The women and children will b
taken to Kansas and Arkansas and allowed 3
60. All improvements are 10 be destroyed
the houses, outbuildings and fences arc to b
TaZed TO the ground The cattle, horses am
farming implements are TO be turned over [
the Interior Department and 70 be disposed Z
as that Department may decide. A number {
settlers have lived in the Oklahoma Land an
the Pan Handle for a number of years an
have made extensive improvements. Thi
order, however, applies 10 them as well as
recent settlers. In portions of the Territor
where the Indians themselves have been abb
20 keep Of intraders the troops viii not operat
PUBLIc GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS.
It costs the Government $225, 900 year
take care Of the public grounds and building
il this city. OF this, $4,000 win be spent ne1
year in taking care OF, repairing and re-ful
nishiDg the White House. One-haIf, or SI2. SO
is for taking care Of the house itself, and th
remainder for re-furnishing several bedroom
which have become very shabby. The lightiu
Of the White House and grounds costs $500
q year.
Ii is not all outgo in the Government c,
peDditures. The Commissioner of Publ
Grounds and Buildings reports that he has CT
enough fine hay of the reclaimed Potoms
Flats 10 supply the needs Of all the animals
his department
number Of very valuable ornamental tire,
have been received from Japan and planted
the public grounds.
DETAIL OF POST oUARTERMAsTER SERGEANT
I'm accordance with the act Of Congress al
thorizing the appointment Of 50 post quarte
master sergeants 10 perform the duties
storekecpers and clerks in the place Of citize
employees the War Department has issued
general order providing that the sergean
shall be selected by examination from the mo
competent men in the Army who have serve
at least four years. The selection will be MAJ
at the rate Of two from each regiment. as &
as practicable. The applicants must also pass
physical examination, and must be pronounce
by the regimental surgeon free from disea
and physically competent 10 perform al Il
duties belonging TO the position sought.
LAND FRAUDS rs DAKOTA.
Intelligence has been received at the Gee
era Land Office that one ]. B. Weeks an q
torney Of Huron, has been arrested on char.
OF perjury in the presentation of duplica