Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-21
THE BIG TELESCOPE.
something Definite 40 be Arranged
on Tuesday.


Mr.. Alvan G. Clark was keeping him
self warm in front of the big stove in the
Hollenbeck lobby last night when a
HERALD man dropped in to see if any
thing was going on. The scribe asked
him if anything had been done regard
ing the big telescope for Wilson's Peak,
and the celebrated lens manufacturer re-
plied "Well, 1 have had conference
with President Bovard, of the Univer-
sity, and Mr.. E. F. Spence, but SO far
nothing has been arranged. 1 think,
however, that on Tuesday decision one
way or the other will be made, and if it
is settled that l am to make the glass
start on trip to the proposed site of the
telescope on Wilson's Peak the next
day."
"How long would it take you to make
the lens? ?" ask the scribe.
"It is impossible to say; the work
might be done in three years and possi-
bly, it would take five, according to the
quality of the glass receive. 1 expect
to get it of Mantoin, of Paris, who cast
the glass for the Lick Photographic lens,
and if your good people here want me to
make the lens they had better get their
order in soon, because l have been in
correspondence with a foreign govern.
ment for couple OF months past regard
ing the manufacture of 40-inch lens for
them"
"What government is ?" queried the
HERALD man.
II am not at liberty to tell you, for |
promised Mr.. Garrett Serviss, the astro.
nomical writer for the New York Sun,
that 1 would not make it public just yet.
I will give you pointer, though; it is
to be on this continent, that is, between
Alaska and Patagonia"
"Well, could you not make their lens
and the one for this place too?" asked
the reporter.
"No, 1 could not undertake both con-
tracts, as 1 am already pledged for 20
inch glass for Denver. They have not
exactly decided on the size they want
here, but it will be either 80 or 391s.
If 1 come to terms, will probably do
the work on the glass right in Los An
geles, because with your 365 days of sun.
shine, 1 could work much more advan-
tageously than in my quarters at Massa-
chusetts."
"How many men work on the lens?"
asked the pencillcr.
"The help of four assistants 10 handle
the glass is all that require, as I do all
the preparing myself" was the reply.
At this juncture a pleasant-looking
gentleman sauntered up and greeted Mr.
Clark, who a minute or so later intro
duced the visitor to the scribe. He
proved to be Captain T. E. Fraser, the
Superintendent of Construction for the
Lick Observatory, and who had full
charge of everything connected with that
building from the moment when work
was first commenced in July, 1880, until
its completion last year. Captain Fraser
had with him some very fine photographs
of the Mt. Hamilton observatory and
telescope, which were duly admired by
all present who had the opportunity of
seeing them. During the con versation
which followed, the scribe learned that
Professor Pickering, who is now in this
city, will in few days dispatch couple
of his assistants to Peru for the purpose
of research from the heights of the
Andes. These expeditions are equipped
by the Boydon Trust, of Harvard, the
Draper fund and number of other
similar endowments.