Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-11
TO SPY AT STARS.
The Reason of President Eli
OTIS Visit Here.
lie Wants to Put a Telescope on
Mount Wilson.
Will Mr.. Spence Join in With the
Harvard Plan?
President Eliot Tells the Story of the
Telescope Matter He Has Inspect
ed Mount WiIson-The Lat
est Developments.

The visit of President Eliot, Of Har.
ward college, to Los Angeles was not
altogether one of recreation, and it is
very likely that the new Photographic
telescope-one of the largest in the
world--will be located at the observa-
tory on Mount Wilson.
While in the city Mr.. Eliot told an in
teresting story to President Dobinson OF
the public library trustees, with refer
ence to the manner in which $50, 900 was
placed at the disposal of the faculty OF
Harvard college to be utilized in procur-
ing Photographic telescope of the larg-
est size to be placed in such part OF the
world where the best results could be
obtained. The story shows that it was
through the initial effort of Los An
geles citizen that this handsome dona-
tion was made.
According to the story OF President
Eliot, at the time Mr.. +. F. Spence
proftered to the trustees of the Southern
California university, donation of
$5O,OO0 for a new telescope to be located
on Mount Wilson, President NJ. M.
Bovard of the Los Angeles university,
since deceased, conceived the idea OF
asking for additional donations from
gentlemen of wealth who were inter-
ested in matters of scientific advance
ment. He accordingly wrote to Prof.
Pickering OF Harvard college, and re-
quesJed that gentleman to prepare a
circular for him, exploiting in matter
of fact way the immense advantages
that would accrue to Astronomical
science by reason of an immense photo
graphic telescope.
Professor Pickering at once complied
with Professor Bovard's request. and
quite by accident copy of this circular
fell into the hands of an elderly lady Of
great wealth residing in New England
She had always been firm friend of
Harvard college, and after carefully
weighing the suggestions made in the
circular she sent for President Eliot and
Professor Pickering, and after consul
tation with them, she placed $50, 900 at
the disposal of the Harvard college to
be used in the purchase of colossal
Photographic telescope. Harvard now
has a station in Peru, and it was at first
thought that the new telescope would
also be sent to the same locality. Pres
ident Eliot, however, conclud d that he
would make full Investigation as to the
advantages of Mount Wilson as place
for the location of the new telescope.
He paid an extended visit to the top of
the mountain and was stfikingly i'm
pressed with the desirability of estab-
fishing an immense Photographic tele-
scope there. In fact, number of gen.
tlemen with whom President Eliot con-
versed are confident that this result may
be expected. 1t is also likely that Mr..
E. +. Spence will be communicated with
as to the propriety of joining issues with
Harvard and establishing one of the
most complete astronomical observator-
les in America on Mount Wilson. All
astronomers who have visited Mount
Wilson in addition to President Eliot
are unanimous in speaking of the won
derful clearness of the atmosphere and
the general availability of Mount Wilson
for such purpose.