The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-29
THE OBSERVATORY
AT ROCHESTER, N. Y.
A Chat With Lewis Swift, Who Is in
Charge Of The Same.
In Rochester You Do Not Have More Than
Four Clear Nights Year for Observation.
In California You Have Two Hundred.
Erecial to THE SUNDAY CA.L

Editor Sunday Call: One needs but to
mention the great Lick Observatory, or call
to mind the fact that the first mammoth
lens for the Wilson Observatory has been
successfully cast, 10 know that CalifOrnians
are particularly interested in astronomical
researches.
Remembering that Lewis Swift of the
Warner Observatory spent several weeks
on Mount Hamilton. about two years ago,
at the time of the eclipse of the sun, and
knowing he had been particularly well
pleased with both the people and the cOun-
try, your correspondent ventured an inter-
view out of hours.
1t is hard to believe that twenty years
ago MIR. Swift: was master Of a cider-mill,
from the roof of which he made some of
his most important discoveries. Lacking
the scientific education that is thought nee
essary TO do such work, he has handed
the Warner Observatory in mastery man
ner, keeping it in the foremost ranks of
such Institutions in the world; proving that
he possesses what he asserts is most essen
tial, the trained eye, and the love for the
work. " hen asked il he took any especial
care OF his eyesight or his health, he replied:
No; the eyes were made to be used, and
l use them when | like and as much as |
like, and eat when like and what | like;
IL Ike" the last with merry twinkle and
smile That Delled the words.
Inc observatory was built by ii. ii.
Warner, and is private institution. Mr..
warner Is thoroughly Interested In astro-
Domical work of all kinds. The institution
was built, too, especially for the purpose of
original discoveries anu to this end lie has
offered money prizes, year after year, for
new comets, ana medals Tor various other
discoveries. An especial prize of $500 was
hest
Their Effect Upon the Earth which
brought out several hne papers from all
over the world, the prize being won by
Professor Lewis Boss OF the Dudley Ob-
servatory OF Albany, N Y.
MIR. swirl has discovered no less than 95o
| neOu e, with the help OF his son Edward,
young man under 20, VINO will doubtless
follow IN his father ; footsteps. There are
Dut twenty-five periodic comets known, OF
winch Mr swift has discovered four, with
possible tour more, which only
TINE CAN PROVE
photorranh not moro than three inchas
souarr Of Inc nehnl,e in Anjromeda which
cat,nnt Ia avan fai,'tIv dist.nJmiShed b,, tho
naked eve renresentS IN oO6 Suns Ali ~ i'm
nortant and Iarge oS dir own snn Tbny
iook in the nhnfnrranh ke so many tiny
dots scattered at random over the naner'
Annther nhotogranb is of the moon in ire
second nmarter iaken at ths I ,;c1 Ohsarva'
torv. and enia1rsd 70 a diameter of sivtaen
incbes ShoyyinT mo rag,y..d surtac,. and tba
dark snots outIininr the .man in The mnonO
:yith Great Gistinrtness
The nier unon which the telescone rests "a
nearly Il tv feet hi1h hnilt NJ snIid stonn
snrm0unted nv a can-stone weiGhinr ei@bt
Tons Tnr hottom If ,ba Nor il tyenTv fea,
in diameter. the top nine feet. Around this
pier the dome is built, leaving less than an
inch space between the woodwork and the
masonry.
The dome weighs three tons, but it is so
col nI tod mar ht-
the lever with but one hand.
In the second story of the tower library
fills nearly one-half the wall. On the
shelves there are volumes in every known
tOn.ue, manuscript pamphlets, weather or
agricultural reports crowd magnificent books
of engraylngs of every possible part of the
heavens. Picking up one book, MIR. Swift
turned page after page filled with curious
squares and figures and maps of the heay-
ems. Poor man." said he, alluding to the
author. ''he spent all his life in this work,
aud then he had TO die"
In this EssIn- 8 aE;t5- a, eollecsieB %
curios sent 70 Mr.. Swift by admirers from
all over the world, and among them several
flne meteorc stones. Passing up the stairs
you get glimpse of the dark room. where
the photographs are developed. and walk
directly OUT on the grayeed roof OF the
house, there Mr.. Swift still studies the
heavens VITA his faithful comet-seeker,
telescope about SIX ieet long, which lie
has used constantly for thirty years.
From the root You enter the observation
room, which is fitted up with most econo-
mlcal manner, and yet has every needed
appliance. Being OF an ingenious turn of
mimi, Ar. swift has added any number of
his own contriVances to assist him
AT HIS WORK.
One is his simple manner of controlling
the driving clock: Three cords Of differenf
materials, and different size. are held in the
hand and by them it is started and stonned
Tie telescope is CLAIMED or unclaimed
and moved to dissection. without removing
the eve from the reIescope Another il
adjusting the sounder that controls the
clock which propels the yerniers On that
the number of ticks copnted after SION.
ping the driving clock will Indicate how
many seconds away known ADJACENT
| star is. and il is also curiousIy adinsied To
| record a transit exactly. and lastly il as.
| sisls in earthly matters. for beinp attached
| bv wires to an alarm on the besdboard of
| the moon has set Electricity is the power