The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-09
THE LICK OBSERVATORY.

People generally regard the proposal Of
the Lick Trustees to remove the body of
James Lick from its present resting-pla ce
on Mount Hamilton to some other locality as
great mistake. Considering that the body is
where Mr.. Lick directed that 1t should be
placed; that the observatory has been built
on top of it and that the coffin could not be
removed without tearing down the founda-
tions of the building and removing the So
inch telescope; that there is ample bene-
fetal use for the large sum of money which
its unnecessary removal would cost; that
there is no public nor private reason why
the remains should be removed at all, the
suggestion appears to be piece Of folly
which could only emanate from person
who must have been ignorant of the feelings
of the public.
If there is any money in the hands OF the
Lick Trustees the residuary legatees or any
one else for which no employment can be
found, we beg 10 suggest that 1t can be put
10 excellent use i'll perfecting the appur-
tenauces of the observatory. That inSiitu-
ten is an admirable enc, but, Ike all new
Institutions it is deficient in large variety
of details which are essential to its useful
ness. Some Of these were pointed ont in
the address which President Holden deliv-
cred in retiring from the presidency of the
Astronomical Society in March lat.
The observatory is as isolated as a light
house 1t depends for all its supplies upon
San Jose, with which it has communication
by stage. But in the winter season, when
there is a heavy snowfall on Mount Hamil-
ton, the stage often stops at Smith Creek, at
the foot of the mountain, and fourteen miles
over mountain road from the observatory.
on these occasions, when, as often happens.
this road is impossible for wagons the food,
supplies and even the fiTewood used at the
observatory must be brought up with the
mailbag on horseback. Vigorous efforts
have been made to collect an adequate sup
ply of firewood during the summer season,
but Professor Holden says that they have
failed, through the procrastination Of the
people who contracted to deliver it. This
procrastiDation he describes as majestic
colossal-like a great feature of nature"
OF course, the want OF tirewood often rem
ders it impossible to warm the houses; the
wa.er freezes on the dining-table, and no
room in the observatory can be warmed
above the freezing point; the Photographic
lens of the great telescope has been washed
in water SO cold that it froze when it was
not under the hands of the operator.
As for the astronomers and their families,
they may shift liz cold weather as best they
can. The chimney flues are defective. Out
of six Offices there are only two in which
fire can be lighted in all winds, and the as
trunomers have TO take their meals in their
bedrooms. The capacity of the water res
ervoiTs is insufficient. In summer they run
dry, and the occupants of the observatory
have to use for drinking purposes rain water
stored for power, which has passed through
the water-engines and hydraulic rams, and
is covered with a coating Of oil
Some singular Deficiencies are noted: There
is rot dollar available for the purchase Of
books; the observatory has to depend on
voluntary contributions. There is no instrll-
ment-maker on the staff When an instru-
ment gets out Of order it has to be sent to
the East for repairs and long delays ensue
which sometimes arrest the progress OF inI-
portant experiments.
Here are opportunities, it is urged, for the
use of money which are more commeDdable
than the scheme to disturb the remains OF
James Lick. The state of things at Mount
Hamilton, it is said, is not credtabe TO the
State. While these complaints are being
read the inquiry VIII naturally suggest
Itself If there is not considerable unreas0n-
able fault fiudiup2