Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-14
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, HAS A
DUAL CELEBRATION.

Second Anniversary of the Founding OF
the local Branch of the oune Mems
Christian ssociAtlou-- u edioation of
the Mccormick observatOry-The Cost
and site.
CHARLoTTEsvILLE, VA, April 49,
The second anniversary Of the Charlottes-
vile Young Mems Christian Association
was celebrated here last night at
O'Clock. An immense crowd was present.
Addresses were delivered by Rev. Oliver
Crcne, D. D., Of Morristown, N. il n. r.
shelton, of Baltimore; A. E. Hines, of
Toronto, and others. To-day the
celebration of the anniversary
OF the birth Of Thomas
J d'ersou took place, and tonight the
Mccormick Observatory of the University
Of Virginia was dedicated. These events
attracted large attendance Of dis
tim uished gentlemen from abroad, in-
Guiding Hon. Leander Mccormick, OF
Chicago, founder of the observatory, and
Prof. Asaph Hon, Of the United States
Naval Observatory, who delivered an
address on J derson.
The observatory building is situated on
observatory Mountain" upwards Of 800
feet above the surrounding low lands,
and about three miles around the road
from the University of virginia. Upon
this same mountain "a small observatory
was built by Th"mas Je1ereon in 1925,
but 1t decayed and was removed in 1896.
A BEAUrIFUL SITE.
The site IL well situated for an observa
tory, and the surroundings are quite pic
turrsque. Looking toward the south Is q
broad valley extending as far az the eye
can reach, and 10 the west are the South
Mn al IA ~
toric home Of Thomas Jefferson To the
north and west lie the Blue Ridge and
other mountains, and TO the northeast
ono gaZes upon another lovely
valley, beautiful homestcRds, villages,
etc. The observatory consists Of cylin-
drtcal huildng surrounded hv hemis-
phercal dome forty-hve feet IN diameter
and Of rectangular shape. The building
on the north il used al the computing oG
foe. brary etc. The walls Of the build
ing are brick. The circular portion is
heavily buttressed. ana hears at the top
coping OF OHIO stone. On This rests the
iron track on which the dome evolves.
THE COST OF THE FsTABLIsHMENT.
The dome weighs $4,000 pounds. The
telescope 10 fellow 10 that Of tho United
States Naval Observatory NJ Washing
ton, it's focal length being 32H feet and
the clear aperture Of the object glass 26
inches The graduated circles are iilu-
mined by small incandescent electric
lamps. The telescope cost S46,-
COO, and the building about $780,
600. Both are the gift Of
l.eander J Mccormick, Of Chicago. The
/ directors of the observatory is endowed
with the sum of $4,000, OF which $27 600
was given by Virginia and the rest by
cit zens Of New York Philadelphia. Ros-
ton and Baltimore. An additional fum OF
s15,O ,Oa0 was also given by W. II. Wander
bilt, OF New York. Prof Ormond Stone,
director in charge, Is graduate Of Chi
cago University.
Prof Hall, in his dedicatory address re-
ferrinv to j ffarsOn, said: "The founder
Of th 3 university was man who had
better understanding Of the tendencies Of
his time than other man on this continent.
lie knew better than any other
man the meaning Of our revolutions
ary war and Of the French revolution.
lie saw That no matter how the tide Of at
fairs might ehb and flow from year TO
year, the great current Of events tended
toward one end. and that was the ahOli-
ton OF class privileges and the BROADEN
ing of the rishts Oi man. He had the
courage OF his convictions, and spoke
what he thought. He believed
that the most ample and COM
plete means Of education should
be- provided. Naturally, therefore, the
crownng work OF his life was The found
Ing of a great educational institution, q
university IN which all branches OF learn
ing should be taught The Mccormick
astronomical observatory ~ another step
toward the completion Of his plans. We
rightly look 20 our universities for the
men who are TO form and direct public
opinion"