The morning call., 1891-07-19
TO THE TOP OF
MOUNT HAMILTON.
Delights Of a Ride to and From the Fa-
NOUS Lick Observatory.
Wonders to Be Seen There-The Panorama of
Rare Landscapes Presented to the View.
Where the Founder Lies Buried


on the other side of the Rocky Mountains
the following description of trip to and
from Mount Hamilton. on which is located
the Lick Telescope:
In the valley of Santa Clara lies the town
of San Jose. Its altitude is only eighty feet
above sea level, and the nearest large body
OF water, the southern arm of the Bay of
San Francisco, is fifty miles due north. Its
population is some $4,000.
From the broad veranda of the Hotel
Vendome ones gaze is attracted by a high
mountain, apparently six or eight miles dis
tant. with white mass on the summit The
ever-preSent liveryman explains that the
hill is Mount Hamilton and the white object
the dome of the celebrated Lick Observa-
atory. He incidentally remarks that he runs
"tally-ho'' coach up there every day; the
round trip is SO 80, and it is twenty-eight
miles by the road from the hotel to the OBJ
servatory. Y gu are inclined to disbelieve
the last statement and. to know the truth,
decide to make the journey
After eating an early breakfast next
morning the start is made. A dense fog en-
yelops the mountains. Heavy coats are In
demand, for the air is quite cold. Viii lie
ascending the foothills the fog settles from
the peaks to the valley "a popularity Of the
country, and soon Mount Hamilton looms
up in all its magnitude. Passing through
fertile farm lands and peach orchards, we
reach the " Halfway House." where we are
glad TO get down from our high perch beside
the driver and stretch our limbs while fresh
horses are being hitched up. Many are the
anxious inquiries put 10 the stolid individual
who holds the ribbon" as to when we get
lunch; they are met always by the same
laconic reply: You get your grub"
AT SMITHS CREEK.
We are all as patient as possible, and in
NlANK a IL.
a sign assuring us that ''Smith's Creek
Hotel Is the only one on the mountain,
lunch Soc" There is an excu Sc for din
ing-room attached to the sign, and in it we
endeayOr TO make ourselves believe we are
enjoying the lunch served US. but 1t is en-
deavor wasted, though the mountain air is
wonderful appetizer.
But time is up, and now for long pull
up steep grades. The driver has become
laxative and shows MS the town below,
Just visible through the fast-disappearing
fog He then points ont long, blue. irreg-
ular line, above the horizon. and ejacu-
lates: Dye see them mountains? Wall,
them's the Slerras, one hundred and sixty
miles awayr'
Rather hard to believe, but a fact
Winding, climbing, now almost over some
precipice, then with jerk that causes us to
cling to the hand rails, up up we 90 Until
some man who prides himself on his pedes-
trianism says he will take "short cut
right over the hill, see?" He is persuaded
10 remain on the coach. however, when the
driver tells him that before he could walk 10
the top the rest of the party would be in
town eating their supper. About 2 O'Clock
we draw rein in front of the main building
of the observatory and are escorted through
marble-hoored halls to the
TOMB OF JAMES LICK,
The founder of the institution. He lies be-
meath the stone face OF the great telescope.
Now we are exposed 10 a perfect volley of
ma I'D
glass of the telescope is three feet in dame
ter; the outside length of barrel is ifty-six
feet; II has vertical and a horizontal move
ment-in fact, can be adjusted to any posi-
ton; there IS also an ingenious device run
by massive clock work that swings the bar
rel in direct opposition to the movement of
the earth, so that when a star is sighted it
can be kept in the middle of the object
glass; the dome, which is compos ed of steel
plates and weighs many tons. revolves on
numerous wheels so finely arranged that a
child can easily turn IL.
We are next taken TO the room where,
among other astronomical Instruments Is
kept the smaller telescope, having an object
glass foot in diameter, through which we
find that the star "Capella" appears as large
as Venus" l was fortunate in meeting
Professor Barnard, man who has probably
discovered more comets than any other as
tronOmer now living. Under his guidance
we were shown many very interesting pho
tographs of the heavens, and had he sys-
tenn Of ''sidereal' time explained. There is
is only one clock in the entire observatory
run on ordinary time. Mounting to the roof
we had given US such information as the ele-
walton above sea level 4443 feeO and many
other figures OF a similar nature.
he cost OF erecting and furnishing the
observatory was between S700,000 and $780,
900; Sl,O00,000 was given by Mr. Lick for
the purpose. 1t IS now under the manage
ment OF Professor Edward s. Holden.
THE LONGEST TELESCOPE.
Passing to another building the lonces,
telescope in the world was exhibited to US.
1t is in four pieces, which, when Joined
make tube over eighty feet long. Finally
after having inspected the reservoirs DO
Gated on the highest point of the mountain
that supply the houses Of the professors
and the observatory with an abundance of
clear water, we bid farewell to the realms
OF science, and once more climb to our seats
on the stage.
The horses have had a good rest and are
eager to start; the air is crisp and bracing
and, as we swing around the sharp curves,
view alter view. each more beautiful than
the preceding, is opened to orr enchanted
vision. Back OF us lie the snow-capped
Sierras, on each side thick wooded hills
stretch to the horizon. while Fellow the un-
dulating fields seem a brilliantly colored
rug spread at the feet of the Monarch of
the Valley'-Mount Hamilton. Careening.
pitching, on We roll, the ladies uttering lit
tie screams and clingiDg to the seats. At
the Halfway House fresh horses were given
us and the remainder of the trip was made
RAPIDLY.
In order that my readers may know what
kind OF road there is up at Mount Hamilton,
let me give a few more figures: Mir. Lick
stimulated, when he offered to establish the
observatory, that the countyo of Santa Clara
should build and keep in repair road to it
from point near the limits of San jose
The county agreed, and it cost over $4,000
to construct the road, which has S67 curves
and grade In no place greater than 2l3 feet