Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-16
MT. WILSON OBSERVATORY.
Finding Location for the Largest Tel
escops In the World.

-
escops In tho World.
TEE ADVANTAGES OF THE PACIFIC aIorx-As-
cKNDINo MOUNT WILSON "A siaar ~ THE
coLD-oBsERvATIoSs uspra pirstopLriKs--
RECREATION AND sToRy-rnLttsa=fsn nxruns.
Correspondence Of TIE EVENING aTAa.
PASADENA, CAL., Feb. Q, 1889.
California has had many things of which it
was proud and there has never been lack of
material upon which to found claims OF SUI
premacy Of various useful and ornamental de-
scriptions. As the new FL Dorado IL had n
magnetism the like OF which was never
equaled in the worlds history; as an agricul-
tural division of the United States il looked
down on many less-favored regions; as the home
Of the Yosemite and the possessor of the
great groves of Mariposa and Calaveras
it has demanded and obtained the recogni-
ton of three generations of tourists and
men of science. No true Californian could
ever tire in telling the story of the greatness
of his state; now everything was so much
larger and better than II was anywhere else.
The latest California triumph is the possession
OF the largest telescope la the world-in Lick
observatory-the paincipal lens being SO inches
in circumference. OF this gigantic star-reacher
every one has read, and the Pacific coast folk
have listened with almost breathless interest
to the remarks of a world on the great tele-
scope in the great observatory on Mount Ham,
ilton. Everybody was satisfied with the
the telescope, and every one was proud Of
it. But it will not always be the biggest
thing in the telescope line it will soon have to
take secondary place in the astronomical world.
new telescope has been planned. the lens Of
which will be, by four very gratifying inches,
larger than the Lick spyglass. The knowledge
OF this SO far successful rivalry would be more
than w0ul6
were it not for the fact that the forty-inch
lens Is also to find its home within the borders
Of the Golden state.
PASADENA
is to be the possessor of the new telescope,
and southern California exults over the plans
which will, if carried out, give that region the
finest observatory in the world The extremely
clear atmosphere of that portion Of southern
California was one Of the qualities which first
| called attention to the place as satisfactory
spot on which to erect a large telescope. and
the advantages of the situation have been
tirelessly urged by President NJ. M. Bovard, of
the University of Southern California.
The agitation resulted in the gathering to-
gether of party of experts whose duty it
should be to find a suitable site for the obser-
vatory, and on January 3 the little crowd
left Pasadena to ascend Mt. Wilson, one
OF the Sierra Madres hills which overlooks
that beautiful town. The party consisted
of President Bovard, Prof. W. H. Picker
ing, astronomer at Harvard university; AL
van G.. Clark, the telescope maker, of Cam
bridge, Mass; Thomas E. Frazer, who
superintended the erection of the S6-inch
Lick telescope at Mt. Hamilton; Rev. p. H.
Bodkin, editor of the Christian Advocate. of
Los Angeles; four responsible citizens of Pasa-
dena and the editor of a local paper, who, in
cldentally, was also a responsible citizen. The
explorers had very interesting time, not only
while they were reaching the 5000 feet alti-
tude, but also after they got there. There
were many phenomena observed, one of the
most curious being exhibited by pocket
barometer carried by one Of the party.
When the astronomers left Pasadena the LIQUID
in the elliptical receptacle reached the
top of the instrument, but as the hours went
by the fluid gradually sank lower and lower
until. before the summit was reached, it had
entirely disappeared. On one occasion it was
said to have fallen an inch and half within
thirty seconds. 1t took nearly four hours to
make the ascent of 1857 feet. and the top was
reached at $3.50 p m. The little band of scientists
shivered in the chilly air and looked mourn
fully at the snow in which they found them
selves. mile beneath them, in the valley,
there was all the warmth of a semi-trcpical
climate but on the peak there was every ap-
pearance of a Montana fall day when the mer-
curry shrinkingly retires into it's appointed bulb
and curls itself up to slumber until spring
comes along in the following July.
TAKING OBSERVATIONS.
Down the gulch not far from the summit, the
party found the ground plan and the front and
rear elevations of log cabin, and this was ap-
propriated as the best available shelter. The
snow was shOveled out Of the unroofed interior
by Professor Pickering and Editor Storms. while
President Bovard and the Rev. Mr.. Bodkin gave
remarkably ifelike limitations Of two scholarly
men trying to chop frewood. A big fire was
soon blazing, and then the refrigerated scient-
lists felt better. Supper was served-every one
serving himsef-and as soon as possible there
after Prof. Pickering and Mr.. Clark 'set up a
four-inch telescope, which had been packed up
on mule. Numerous observations were taken
by the more enthusiastic; they reclining on
the snow to gaze through the long tube at the
stellar attractions which were making the
heavens very brilliant that night. Observa-
tons were also taken from the summit but with
much difficulty, for there was no shelter from the
extremely cold wind then blowing very hard
There was less breeze down at the camp but
the atmosphere was sufficiently charged with
frigidity to prevent anyone from doing any
sleeping. The night was spent in shivering
eating, trying to keep the fire going
and in telling marvellous stories, which
were nlied to excess with horrible incidents.
The historian Of the expedition puts on record
the fact that Judge Eaton's horrible bear stories
unnerved the whole party, and when the sedate
Rev. Mr. Bodkin (who had slipped outside the
hut) punched the dignifed President Bovard
in the ribs with long pole, giving at the same
suddenly arose to his feet and with the unsus-
pecting and timorous remainder of the party
made ready for instantaneous fight.
RECREATION.
Whenever the crowd tired of spinning warns
it would eat, and eating was favorte recrea-
ton all through the night There were no reg
ular meal hours. but when any distinguished
scientist lacked other employment he attacked
the larder. and he invariably had company.
When daylight came those of the party who
were rabid believers in hydropathy washed their
faces in ice water, and said they enjoyed it,
but they failed to make any converts. Then
everybody ate once more. An impromptu to
boggan-slide speedily put in order
and rough sled was hastily hewn out with an
axe, and with these crude materials for
the creation of fun the crowd en-
joyed itself wonderfully for a while Break
fast was then served, and after that
was over another survey was made of the peak
as to its adaptability for an observatory site.
The professors were loud in their praises of
Mount Wilson. and decided that it was the place
OF all others in southern California where the
worlds greatest telescope should be located.
AFTER THE RETURN.
On the same day the party returned to Pasa-
dena, and on the Monday following banquet
was rendered Prof. Pickering and Alvan Clark
by the business men of the town, represented
by the board of trade. After the solids had
been disposed Of there was much oratory in
which the Pasadenans spoke enthusiast
cally OF the observatory scheme, and promised