The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-05-17
CHICAGO'S BIG TELESCOpE.
The Plans Adopted for Erecting tho Dear
born Observatory at Evanston.

lhe Plans Adopted for Erecting tho Dear
born Observatory ut Evanston.
From the Chicago Ilcrald)
A joint committee representing the
Chicago Astronomical Society and the
Northwestern University was busy al
Evanston all Saturday after loon eXami
ming plans and proposed locations OIL
which to erect the Dearborn Observatory
in which is to be placed the big telescope
formerly located at the Chicago Univor.
slty. The society was represented by
DIR. Il. A. johnson, Professor Mixed, j.
Young Scammon. Professor Hough, Pro
fessor Colbert being absent, while the
committee for the university was Presi-
dent Cummings }. b, Hobbs. Orring-
ton Lunt, Professor r. d. Sheppard and
DIR. Bonbright. After eXaming the
different sites the committee agreed to
ocate the observatory at point on the
bluffs about four hundred feet north of
the Swedish Seminary, and about mid
way between Chicago avenue and the
lake. The observatory will be about two
hundred and fifty feet from the beach,
experiments made by Professor I[ough
having demonstrated that the waves
make no impression at that distance, oven
in the severest storms. The plans sub
mitted by Cobb a Frost were adopted
as whole, the details of the construct
ion being left to committee consisting
of President Cummings, j. B. Hobbs, j =.
Y. ScammOn and Professor Elias Colbert.
Mr.. Hobbs has donated the sum of
$25, 900, and Mt least that amount will be
spent on the observatory building. Tho
only matter of detail left undecided was
as to whether q Warner ~ Swazoy dome,
costing IS, 500, or Breeder dome, at
s., 500, should be erected.
The former dome Weighs $4,000
pounds, and is guaranteed to moVo under
pressure of only 35 pounds. The plan
as adopted provide for building 79xG5
feet, facing to the west. The dome room
is 81 feet in diameter on tho inside. In
the conter of this Is tho central pier on
which the telescope is placed, with II
diameter Of Is feet at the base and 10
teet ut the top, and entirely disconnected
from the exterior walls and the floors.
The pier will he 30 feet above the grade,
as compared with 6G feet in the old struc-
ture. The observer will be placed 27
feet above the ground, and the top of
the dome will be about 45 feet, tho tele-
scope rising II feet 10 inches above the
iloor. The old capstones will be used
in the new observatory. The meridian
circle room will have a southern expo
sure, as Is necessary, and its inside
Dimensions will be 25x38 feet. Here
will be placed the instruments for furnish
ing true time to tho city. Professor
Hough is now doing this work by telo.
graph from Temporary building on tho
campus. There will also bo u library
23x3O feet inside and room of similar
dimensions over it, in addition to five
large working rooms. 1t will take at
least six months after the contracts are
let to finish tho dome, which will be of
iron and steel, but the work will be
pushed forward as rapidly as possible.
The telescope is one OF the largest in tie
world, and by the end of November Chi
oaSo will have an observatory worthy of
the blG refractor. The name of Dear
born Observatory will be retained.