Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-18
THE LATEST PLAN.
PROFESSOR LOVES SCHEME FOR A
MOUNTAIN ROAD.
How He Proposes to Take People Up
Mount Wilson-A Railroad and Eleva-
tor Features of the Enterprise.

A new attraction will soon be added to
those which are drawing train loads Of
tourists from the eastern states and
from foreign countries to Southern
California. Prof. T. S. @. Lowe, who be-
longs equally to Los Angeles and Pasa-
dena, has begun the construction of a
mountain railway which will be unlike
any other road of similar magnitude in
the world, in that it will be available for
use throughout the year, and trip over
it will possess peculiar charms for each
month in the calendar.
The Altadena steam railway, recently
acquired by the Terminal company, will
be extended two and half miles to a
point in the Rubio cafion, at the base of
the Sierra Madre mountains, about six
miles north of Pasadena and some 1900
feet above sea level. From this point
the Mount Wilson railway will convey
the passenger by short, quick cable
lift, to halfway station and hotel to
be built upon spur of the mountain at
an altitude of 5000 feet. Thence an
electric road, with an easy grade, will
wind around the peak, visible from the
foothills, skirting Grand cai1on on the
way, and finally ascend the summit of
Mount Wilson proper, which is about
$500 feet above the sea and commands
one OF the widest horizons in California
and is pronounced one of the most strik-
ing views in America or Europe.
This is the point selected for the great
Mount Wilson observatory, and it will
probably have better atmospheric con-
ditions for astronomical purposes than
any other observatory in the world.
Mr.. VIM. ii. Knight, who is an author
lty on this subject, states that the lenses
for telescope with a 40.inch object
glass are now being ground. This object
glass will have diameter exceeding by
four inches that of the great Lick teles-
cops, at present the largest in the world.
but 1T Will be several years before this
giant telescope will be ready for mount
ing. Meantime Harvard university will
probably establish branch observatory
upon Mount Wilson as soon as the new
railway can furnish transportation for
the equipment OF telescope having
thirteen-inch object glase.
At first blush it may seem like a haz.
ardous undertaking to build road up
the steep declivities of the Sierra Madre
mountains, at the very point where
they. present their boldest front, directly
north of Pasadena; but Professor Lowe
has turned the very obstacles of nature
to account, and he has by brilliant
engineering feat secured decided fnan-
cial advantage. The steep ascent from
Rubio cafion to the projecting shelf on
which the Half Way hotel is to be built
will be overcome by lift, or elevator,
which will haul one car up an incline OF
go feet in the 100, by means of cables,
while it's fellow is descending on par
allel track, thus minimizing the power
required to overcome go steep a grade.
This lifting device shortens the road
about five miles, reduces the time about
one hour, and diminishes the cost of
construction and maintainance, thus
adding greatly to the feasibility of the
enterprise and the attractiveness of the
journey.
From the Halfway house practicable
grade for an electric road has been sur
veyed to the summit, about six miles
distant, by the curves of the track.
Thence it will be ultimately extended
along the ridge to various points of in
terest.
1t is expected that the Mount Wilson
railway will be completed to the Half
Way station, and wing of the hotel
ready for occupancy in four months
from this time, 80 that those who wish
to escape the heat and dust of the valley
in July and August, may climb without
exertion to the pure air and cool retreat
of the eagles nest on the Sierra Madre
mountains.