The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-06
A DIG TELESCOPE LENS.
Tia Great Lick Instrument Net Large
Enoueh-A Driicafe Undertaking.

SCOPE lCi~. Attttf ~ "a NV ''N' f''
president of the University Of Southern
California. located at Los Angeles, ask
ing for information as 70 a forty men
lens. and intimating that an order Tor
telescope % eclipse that at the Lick DO
servatorr would soon be sent.
A correspondent who was present
turned his attention 10 the numerous
lenses of different sizes and in various
Stages II manufacture while Mr.. Ciarl;
was reWiing the letter. lie had just
been talking with the man who had made
ewes that could read patent medicine
signs on the moon s rocks with regard 70
the possibility for further advance in as
Economical researches. and lie feared the
letter might make 10 necessary To shorten
bis visit. Nr. Clark's eyes twinkled as
he read tie letter. Then. without a
word Of comment. he handed the mlssive
to tie reporter and resumed the patient
rub. rub. rub Of a small lens glass on the
polishing block
"What do You think Of that" ne
asked, when the reporter had made
careful mental note Of the contents Of the
letter.
Il thought it had been stated by some
savants that it was impossible to finish a
lens any larger in diameter than that
sent 10 the Lick observatory, the repor-
ter said.
IL know such statement has been
made. replied Mr. Clark. but do not
indorse IT.. I've been making telescope
lenses now for q good many years. and
ought to know something about 1t. Ia |
can get the glass the proper size there
will he 10 trouble in making lens forty
inches IN diameter I'd make five
foo,rif my life was spared long enough
DO you mean % sly that there Is
possibility in the future Of having tele-
scopes Eve feet in diameterf
Il don't see why they should not be rs
large as that. But mind yoa, IL would
take about one man lifetime 60 make
sucii lens. IN the first place, it would
be- necessary 10 get piece Of glass alb
solutclv perfect In every way The
slightest flaw or variation in density
would spoil it Cor big lens. IL might
be q generation before such n piece Of
glass could be manufactured. Then 1t
must be- ground and polished 10y hand.
But believe such lens can be made,
and believe j. viii be made. -
"Will it be q any practical advantage
90 astronomers
Certainly it viii It's increased mag
nifyins power Will be m proportion 10 rs
increased sized. Take this forty-lnch
lens 'lat las icen mentioned as an cy-
amrlc. It's sizo would he one ninth
larger than the Lick observatory lens,
and 1t woull make given objects appear
nine times larger on miro times nearer.
Increase the diameter Of the lens and You
vii. incrmo the power 20 examine
worlds tina have not yet been seem If
"a lens five reeu ian diameter j. secured, n
Will bring tae moon SD close that $50 can
see every mock and Granny ON rs surface
As for new stars. there IS 10 llmlt 70 The
di.c0vcrioi that coul be made. !, would
levCluti0ni1 Astronomical researches"
Had Won thought ca1making o larger
lens than that in tic Lick telescope before
vou received his letter.
cf r... ,,..,.,...I 90 M
VII , } d.. ~. .u, 80 ''' ~
,,'' ,''5 WY -. '-.... ~, r'ia'.f ,lnt
''.'-'' ' 49,. .,,....,f g.i. .,.r .looii
.'.'' -. .n... ,,.. r~
Mount liam .ion. There is q wonderful
amount o., ''''' '' 90 '''''t''''' ,. ,,'.
''''' -,~ 1 ~, w. a.. ...i I.,. ,,,
''',...-. .." ..I,,.'.I.n. r.'r.,,-
.'' .i'.--... .,...,lfa... ,,i,c'..,, Tt,s
et ~. ''... .. '''.'. ~. l....,ol ,oo
'. W.. .,. $500, l,.I. 7,T ,r,
..---...., .'..- ..i.." T ,..- lso limo
i6r" ei-o t'l..l o-h.r small orders ron,
,f'.t.,.t. 1,..lf,.,ortotbo.oepalt1r, lo,.
i.r.' r.o0..ol r, rs tlian tlrce lelters
frrn, difT.rrrI ralleres osl.in, n Z could
,,.l.c , fort., ,n.b lan. Ihsyc written ali
.hr~o nor.or, ,r,t ! was ready to accapt
anr and AN orders for n forty incl. lens.
In tact I was So suro that there would be
y demand for such a len, that gave an
o-,ler fo tic GLASS men in Paris To save
an me- the frlt large mold that they sue.
coded IN Getting ON may Get K in "A
few we4ks and may have 10 wait
,.,o.,.l,s and ,veel-s for IT, heard the