New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-08
MONT BLANC OBSERVATORY.
COMPLETION OF A UNIQUE WORK.

COMPLETION OF A UNIQUE WORK.
The much-talked-of Mont Blanc Observatory
is at last an accomplished fact Mr.. Jansen. Of
the French Institute. who planned and SUPER
intended the construction Of the building, wrote
on September IL from that lofty and isolated
spot the following letter to his friend NJ.
Bischoffsheim, member Of the Chamber OF
Deputies: THE observatory has been erected.
and the framework is completed, the fittings
alone remaining to be done. Not everybody be-
lieved in this success due to the pluck OF our
brave workers. some Of whom remained for
twenty days on the summit, and also to the
wonderfully favorable August weather. The
windlasses designed to work on the snow an.
swered perfectly and were great relief to the
workmen They contributed greatly to the sue
cess, and were Of great help to me In my ascent.
1t is a striking and wonderful sight to see the
building materials drawn by those engines UP
the icy slopes Of the summit novel kind OF
builders yard. such as science alone could wish
for, I hope the observatory may be used for
certain observations this autumn. l am happy
to say we have had no serious accident. Once
more thank my co-operators. Fuller particu-
lars follow by letter for the Academy and col.
leagues
The construction OF this unique scientific sta.
ton was begun more than two years ago, under
the personal direction Of NJ. g. Capus. young
assistant Of the Museum in Paris He had all
ready won renown through his explorations in
Central Asia. He accompanied the first expedi.
ton OF Gabriel Bonvaot to the Pamirs and
spent several months in the unfrequented por-
tons of that vast plateau. He had known the
extremes Of temperature, having passed several
months in attitudes equal to that OF Mont
ifraac rapfs-
ters 40 degrees below zero, as well as in the
tropics. He had made extensive explorations In
Persia China, Turkestan and Southern Asia.
He was thus we'll fitted for this arduous UNDER
taking
The builders at first hoped to cut or bore
through the ice-cap Of the mountains to solid
rock and base thereon the foundations OF the
observatory. This was found to be impossible.
The snow and ice were harder than granite.
So at between thirty and forty feet from the
rock they stopped, and determined to let the
building rest upon the ice or snow. The OBJ
servatory was made In sections at Paris under
the direction Of NJ. Jansen. The numerous
pieces were then sent to Chamounix From
Chamounix, which is $3.50 feet above the level
Of the sea, the pieces were transported by easy
stages to Rochers- Rouges on the backs OF men.
each carrying about fifty pounds Some OF the
carriers could easily have carried twice the
weight most of the way. The hardy mountain
GERS are used to this kind Of work, and. al
though their backs are bent they have great
deal of strength and remarkable powers OF
endurance. From Chamounx to the first stop
of the journey is about four hours, while for the
ascent between Grand Mulets and Rochers-
Rouges 1t takes the experienced climber at least
six hours At Rouchers-Rouges the machinery
Son. hA n-inf nd
the following spring were taken on TO the sum-
nit and installed in the house.
The observatory building is about thirty-eight
feet in height but rises above the snow only one
third Of this distance. Und.rground-or to speak
accurately under the snow-are the dwellings
and the laboratories. The ceiling Of the lower
story ia on a level with the surface Of the snow.
The waitng-ro rooms for tourists and guides are
also downstairs and the upper story Is re-
served exclusively for the observatory proper.
The roof forming a terrace. is surrounded by
a balustrade and supports the heavy beams OK
the dome which shelter the telescopes ana
other instruments. An unusual architectural
feature has been introduced into the construc-
ton Of the observatory. 1t rests upon ten heavy
screws and in case the snow beneath should
ever settle. it can be made to retain con.
slant and normal position. To insure the COW
ering of large surface as possible with
wide distribution OF weight and a good resistance
ht
been built in the form OF PyraHnu 'aa.
dormer windows, provided with double panos
Of thick glass, eyes for this aerial tower
and permit the carrying of signals in the direc.
ton of the four cardinal points. The fiues and
ventilation pipes are of copper and are protected
on the outside by proper insulation as a precau-
ton against lightning. The wood used has all
been submitted to fireproof preparation and
all the movable parts of the apparatus nave
been rendered incombustible. Anthracite coal
will be used altogether for at that latitude II
has been found to give off more heat than any
other variety The extreme cold does not often
exceed 80 degrees below zero. and the Their
mometer when placed in the snow ordinarily
registers l. or II below.
NJ. Jansen. though an old and feeble man.
personally supervised the completion and equip
ment of the observatory. He made, for that
purpose. last year his first visit to the summit
of Mont Blanc. being carried thither in litter
by thirteen porters. The observatory Will be
occupied constantly from May to November.
During the rest of the year il will be deserted,
but the self-registering instruments with which
II is equipped will continue the observations to
some extent, and IL may be found practicable to
have the results automatically transmitted to
Chamounix by electricity. The experiments and
observations will have to do with physics, ami.
NAL and vegetable physiology, meteorology,
tronomy and spectrum analysis. A series Of ex-
perimentS that Will be of unusual interest to
the scientific world. and undoubtedly fascinat-
ing to the experimenter himself, will show the
effects of rarefied air In different degrees upon
the organs of different animals, as the cat dog.
rabbit, carrier pigeon, etc. 1t is said that the
scientist has expressed 4 regret that he cannot
accommodate a whole Noah's ark collection In
his aerial laboratory. 1t has already been
learned that the cat is one of the most sensitive
of all animals To cold and thin air and IL will
be difficult to keep one for any length of time
in such altitude