New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-27
READY TO OBSERrE THE SUNS ECLIPSE.
CONGRESS FAILED To PROVIDE FOR A GOVERN.
MENT EXPEDITION IN TINE.

MENT EXPEDITION IN TINE.
Washington, Dec. o6 SpeciaD.-Thc United States
Naval Observatory will not send out a party to OBJ
the total eclipse Of the January !, al
though such action greatly desired account Of
the scientific importance OF the occurrence. App
cation made Congress for appropriation early
in the last session, but it thought by the savants
who control the House and pass S22, 900 900 appro
priaons for harbors rivers, creeks and bayous, that
the sum OF So could be needed for object Of
practical as we'll scientific interest," and it was
granted. At the beginning OF this session the ap
plcation renewed, and If Is had been promptly
granted something might have been DONE although
the time for preparation would have been extremely
limited But again the legislative savans who run"
the House Committee Appropriations were laggard
possibly because they thought scientific expedition
TO observe the eclipse could be organized and equipped
in as little time IS required to organize and equip
committee Of Congress to witness the launching Of
nan-Ofwar At any rate the bill appropnating
So 900 for the purpose did not pass the House until
December 20 The senate passed it on the following
day and it probably reached the President late Friday
afternoon-too late to be Of any use whatever
Parties have been sent out to observe the eclipse
at several stations in Nevada and California and ono
of them that in charge of Professor Pritchet, Of
Washington University, ST. Louis, has been provided
with PHOTOGRAPHIC apparatus by the Naval Observa-
tory. Professor Pritchcts party Will be stationed
at Norman Cal. The Lick Observatory is not in the
path of the eclipse being far SOUTH but Professor
Holden Of that Observatory. will observe the eclipse
from a temporary station few miles from the place
chosen by the ~. Louis observers Professor David
SON. who IS in charge of the United states
Coast and GeOdcuc Survey In California
will also establish station IN that state
for the same purpose. Professor Picker
ing OF Harvard College, has sent out two paics, one
TO California and one 10 be stationed. at Nnnoniucoa
NeV.
TO Tribune CORE pOndent Professor Asaph Hall
OF the Naval Observatory, said: / think, from whai
have heard that the prospect for successful ObSerVa
tons at Wlnnemucca Is better than In California The
duration OF the eclipse that IS Of totally, VIII be only
about two minutes, and local shower Of atmospheric
disturbance Of any sort at that time would be fatal
The chances OF clear weather better in Nevada
than In California whore showers are prevalent at th,
season.
" How broad is the path Of total eclipsel'
"somewhat less than 100 miles, about ninety miles
| believe
"What scientific results arc eXpcctedp
"Well the observations expected to give us good
photographs of the corona, lts ngure, etc Then va
expect with greater eNactncss the relative
positions Of the and moon, which VIII enable u
10 check aud correct our tables OF the moon which
contain errors. We hope, also, 10 find out sometime
new about the properties OF the red colofc1 ames and
different shades Of Hight which appear In the SUM-
corona, which require further observation and study IN
order to determine their nature ard cause. The
eclipse IS one of great scientific importance and sue
ccsful observations ought TO add much to our present
fund Of knowledge"