The herald., 1893-09-13
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; OPPoRrU-
NITY-A GREAT ASTRONOMICAL OBJ
SERvAT0RY WITHIN OUR REACH.

1t is now an established fact in the
minds OF the prominent astronomers of
the world that Southern California pos
sesses rare and unusual advantages OF
atmosphere and climate for astronomi-
cal purposes, and, that when the Mount
Lowe railway is extended 90 as to make the
higher peaks of the Sierra Madre range
easily accessible, no point in the United
States could be better suited for the es-
tablishment Of great observatory.
1t has been long known to Prof. Lowe's
immediate associates that he has had
in contemplation ever since he started
the building of the mountain railway,
the securing to Southern California OF
one of the moot complete astronomical
observatories in the world. But in
this. as in all other OF his business and
scientific enterprises, his method seems
to be to allow the idea to sssume form
by planting the seeds of thought on the
subject and allowing them sufficient
time to grow to healthful maturity; and
then, at the proper time. to consummate
bhO Pi6h hO bao thuu ShiClully it,atuiCQ-
Hitherto every move he has made,
whether in business or otherwise, has
confessedly been Of great benefit to this
portion OF the state, and it is well known
alec. that all his plans have been fnsn-
cially successful. The fact that the
first section of the road has demonstrated
itself financial success, during the
fret two months of its operation, and
when many were unaware that it had
been opened, is, in itself, the best pos
sible guarantee as to what the success
of the second edition will be, with the
receipts doubled by the extra fare,
though the cost Of operation will be only
slightly increased. And the success OF
the first section is greatly enhanced
when the adverse conditions existent at
the time of its opening are considered.
namely that larger proportion of the
holiday season travellers had already
moved to the seaside resorts; many of
the wealthier citizens of Southern CAL
ifornia were in the east or attending the
worlds fair; the tourists were not here
to see the additional attraction offered
them and the financial depression was
at its lowest stages. These conditions
were enough to dampen tho ardor and
blot out the anticipations OF any man,
but in spite of them ALL a travel more
than double that of the largest esti-
mates has patronized the road with in
creased delight. ed
1t was with these facts in full view
that Professor Lowe was induced to
enter into arrangements for the pur-
chase OF five telescopes OF superior make
and power-one for celestial photog-
raphy with An aperture larger than
that of the SO inch Lick glass on Mount
Hsmilton-for the purpose of establish
ing one OF the most complete astronom-
ical observatories and stations in the
United Statee, and considering its great
atmospheric and climatic advantages,
one that can successfully compete with
the best astronomical observatories OF
the world.
Two completely equipped observatories
will be combined to make thi5 contem-
plated observatory, and the telescopes
are as follows: A great English 371a-
inch reflector, with an established rec
ord of having made the finest celestial
photographs ever secured; refractor O.
l6 inches; one OF IL inches-the same
size and quality OF glass with which
Professors Barnard and Burnham have
made their great discoveries and two
eight-inch refractore. With these glasses
are two steel domes, suitably equipped
with revolving gear. one 80 feet and the
other 40 feet in diameter, with a smallel
dcme for each OF the smaller glasses
such as are used at the Harvard uni
versitv.
Professor loves object in PURCHASING
go extensive an equipment and placing
it in our high and clear atmosphere OF
the Sierra Madre SUBMITS is to have in
struments not only for the use of thu
corps OF distinguished astronomers suci
an equipment would at once gathe
around it, but also to place others, with
out interfering ct all with the wofkin,
astronomers, at the disposal OF visitor
and the faculty OF the Throop Polytech
mic university for the use OF its students
and thus aid the latter institution in tn,
grand work it is now doing, and is des
tined to do in the higher education O
the sons and daughters of this section o
the state.
The purchase and erection OF theee in
struments have already been arranged
for by Professor Lowe out of his per
sonal means, without any solicitation o
donations from the general public, bu
under the single condition that the pub
lie so far interest itself in the project al
to extend the railroad from Echo noun
tain to the destined cite OF the observa
tory.
When James Lick made known hi
determination to erect an observatory
on Mount Hamilton, it was on the con
dition that the board of supervisors O
Santa Clara county build a well-gradee
wagon road to the summit, which the,
gladly did at cost OF about $l00, 600
This was cash paid out OF the count,
treasury without any suggestion of re
turn except the general benefit tina
would accrue to the county by the loca
tion of the observatory at that poin