Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-28
ON MOUNT HAMILTON.
The Exciting Ride to and From the
Famous Lick Observatory.
WONDERS TO BE SEEN THERE.
The Panorama Of Rare Landscapes Seen
From the Jolly Tally-Ho.
WHERE THE FOUNDER LIES BURIED
WRITTEN FOR THE D1sPArcH.I


In the valley of Santa Clara lies the town
above sea level, and the nearest large body
of water, the southern arm of the Bay Of
San Francisco, is 80 miles due north. Its
population is some $4,000.
From the broad veranda of the Hotel
Vendome ones gaze is attracted by high
mountain, apparently six or eight miles dis
tant, with a white mass on the summit; the
ever-present hveryman explains that the
hill is Mount Hamilton and the white object
the dome of the celebrated Lick Observatory.
He incidentally remarks that he runs q
"tally-ho" coach up there everyday; the
round trip is So so, and it is % miles by the
road from the hotel to the Observatory.
You are inclined to disbelieve the last state
ment, and, to know the truth, decide to
make the journey.
After eating an early breakfast next morn
ing the start is made. A dense fog en-
velops the mountains. Heavy coats are in
demand for the air is quite cold. While as
cending 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 be-
side the driver, and stretch our limbs while
fresh horses are being hitched up. Many
are the anxious inquiries put to the stolid
individual who holds the ribbons" as to
when we get lunch; they are met always By
the same laconic reply: "You get your
grub at Smiths Creek"
The Sign the Best Part oft
We are all as patient as possible and In
about an hour are rewarded by the sight Of
q sign assuring Us that "Smith's Creek
Hotel is the only one on the mountain,
lunch 50c." There is an excuse for a din
ing-room attached to the sign, and in it we
endeavor to make ourselves believe we are
enjoying the lunch served US, but it is en-
deavor wasted, though the mountain air is
wonderful appetizer.
But time is up, and now for a long pull
up steep grades. The driver has become
talkative and shows US the town below, lust
visible through the fast-disappearing fog.
he then points out long, blue, irregular
line, above the horizon, and calculates.
"D'ye see them mountains? Well, them's
the Sierras, $50 miles awayP'
Rather hard to believe, but fact.
Winding, climbing, now almost over some
precipice, then with a jerk that causes US to
cling to the hand rails, up, up we go until
soon some man who prides himself on his
pedestrianism says he will take Short
cut, right over that hill, see?" He is per-
suaded to remain on the coach, however,
when the driver tells him that before he
could walk to the top, the rest of the party
would be in town eating their supper.
About 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
beneath the stone face of the great tele-
scope. Now we are exposed to q perfect
volley of measurements and weights. The
object glass of the telescope is three feet in
diameter; the outside length of barrel is SO
feet; it has a vertical and horizontal move
ment, in fact can be adjusted to any posi-
ton; there Is also an ingenious device run
by massive olockwork that swings the barrel
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 composed of steel plates
and weighs many tons, revolves on numer-
GUS wheels so finely arranged that child can
easily turn it.
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." I was fortunate in meeting
Prof Barnard, man who has probably dis
covered more comets than any other astron-
omer living. Under his guidance we were
shown many very interesting photographs Of
the heavens, and had the system of
"sidereal" time explained. There is only
one clock in the entire observatory run on
ordinary time. Mounting to the roof we had
given us such information as the elevation
above sea level q, ,443 feet) and many other
figures of similar nature.
The cost of erecting and furnishing the
Observatory was between S700, 900 and $780,
700; 81 900, 900 was given by Mr.. Lick for
,he purpose. 1t is now under the manage
nent of Prof Edward s. Holden, President
'f the University of California
The Longest Telescope.
Passing to another building the longest
in the world was exhibited to us
It is in four pieces, which, when Joined,
make tube over 80 feet long. Finally,
Ifter having inspected the reservoirs DO
ated on the highest point of the mountain) e
hat supply the houses of the professors and
he Observatory with an abundance of clear
water, we bid farewell to the realms Of
cience, and once more climb to our seats ON
he stage.
The horses have had good rest and are
ager to start; the air is crisp and bracing,
nd, as we swing around the sharp curves,
-iew after view, each more beautiful than
he preceding, is opened to our enchanted
'ision. Back of US lie the snow-capped
,ierras, on each side thick wooded hills
tretch to the horizon, while below, the un-
ulating fields seem a brilliantly colored
ug spread at the feet of the Monarch Of
he Valley'-Mount Hamilton. Careering,
itching, on we roll, the ladies utterin4
title screams and clinging to the seats AT
he "Half-way House" fresh horses were
iven us and the remainder of the trip was
lade rapidly.
In order that my readers may know what
ind of road there is up Mt. Hamilton let
le give few more figures: Mr.. Lick stip-
lated when he offered to establish the OBJ
eryatory, that the county of Santa Clara
lould build and keep in repair road to il
.om point near the limits of San Jose.
he county agreed, and it cost over $4,000
construct the road, which has 367 curves
nd a grade in no place greater than 3AS feet
the mile. BERT o. BRUCE