Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-04
EXHIBITOR THE NAVY
implements of War and Peace at
Jackson Park, Chicago.
TRIUMPH OF SCIENCE.
Chronometers which Have Interesting
Uistorics-System by which Time
pieces Arc Regulated.
fChicago Inter ocean,


led 10 believe that the lite OF a naval OFF,
Ger is one continuous round OF pleasure.
and that naval establishment in time OF
neaco is at best an expensive luxury, the
xar;ous exhibits Of that department of the
government n. the Worlds Fair will prove
10 be a revelation.
There the resident Of the rural districts
will have an opportunity. II he Is go us
posed. 10 see how the men upon whom so
much depends IN time of war are EMPLOY
ell IN time OF peace. There the investi-
gator will have an opportunity 81 seeing
not only the implements OF war w.th
which the average citizen l. more or less
familiar. hut the implements oi science
with which the naval officer renders yaiu-
able service 10 his country IN tme OF
peace. and of which the average Legislator
who declaims most loudly against naval
establishment 10 profoundly ignorant:
OF this other or peaceful phase OF tho
naval officers calling the naval obscryG-
torv exhibit furnishes good example.
Here u shown IN detail the work winch
goes on patiently and per,istcntiy from
wear to year and though receiving httie or
no notice nom the pubic has probably
resulted IN moro practical beneht 20 com
mcrce bott on land and sen than the work
of any other department OF the govern
mont.
rNfEEING ACCURACY.
Nv the discoveries and improvements IN
the science Cf navigation supplemented
nv the charts made up from the data FUR
nished by tho Coast-SGVey Department.
tho modern shlp takes her course across
tho in,ohtv deep with aS much accuracy ~
the rnllroad tram follows It's pain
marked out IN steel from one point
- another. IN addition 10 tho p:ac-
4. la. 10. 80
astronomy and magnetism without winch
tho navigator would he unable 10
follow his course the naval observatory
IA. maic wonderful strides III the way OF
designing and Improving instruments for
the accurate measurement Ot time. IDS
latter branch of the work done by the de-
partmeut has resulted III almost az Iuuch
benefit 10 commerce on land "a on the
hisu seas. Absolute accuracy In the met
surcmcnt OF time has become rs essential
IN the operation Of great railway systems
as It ever wa. TO the navigator IN deter
mining his position on the high seas.
TO show what has been accomplished IN
tins direction Lieutenant a. Il. winter
halter. who Is ~ charge of the entire eN-
hiblt. takes much pleasure III explaining
the uses OF the many curious instruments
when have been devised for the purpose.
on first importance of course are the
clocks. and Of these there seems to be an
n'mo.; Unlimited number IL the little Ob-
e'rya'or2.
INTERESTING EXHIBITS.
Clocks which run by means of weight
and ucuduium. clocks run by electricity,
clocks winch are ran by combination OF
both: tLru. too, there are chrouometer5
galore. some Of them with records both of
adventure as well Is good umc-keepng
ouqhiies -cLronOmctorsw whose sears speak
olouuenilv az tie great cyclone IN the
hafbor IF Apla. and others which. II taey
could speak. could tell heartrenIing tales
Of heroic suffering IN the Arcucs. Here
j. one used by Commander G.. W. peLSn-
United States NAVY, on the l!l-iatcd cruise
Of the Jeanette. This instrument was
saved from the vessel when she was
wrecked. and used bv Captain belong TO
navigate the small boat TO the Lena Delta,
IL Northern Russia. where II WAS found
among bis effects when h. and his party
persisted IN the snow IN the sprln" of 1851.
Since that time II has made cruise ~ the
United States steamer Omaha, 1853 70 1871.
Another instrument with a history Is
cAGOnome.cr used hy CAPTAIN Hall III his
cruise on tne Polars. II was found by
Captain Mans OF tine British Arctic eXpe-
dfton, ~ "a cache at NcWman's bay. where
Captain Hall Lad left H. Alter four years
OF exposure 10 . temp nature which hhd
varied from thai of all Arctlc summer 70
100 degrees fH'ft iutlli brlDN lu' iittHlIE
po.uf. vet when II was tested at the
EOial Naval College at Portsmouth. Eng.
after it, return u was found 20 vary only
one tenth of "a second per day, which yaria-
lions was almost exactly tbat with which
the instrument was accredited when II
was first tested and issued to the PolarlS
expedition. There are SIX other chrome
meters which have histories little less M
fcresting than the two described above.
These are the instruments which were
saved from the United States shus Van
dsha and NipsIc. which were wrecked at
Alpha. Samoa. March lG and II, 1889.
1NsIRUNrNrs WITH nIsIoElEs.
All these instruments bear eloquent tes-
nouv OF the wrath of the terrible storm
which swept the harbor On that memora-
bic occasion. In one the glass over the
dial Is shattered INTO thousand frag-
Iuents, ana all are more or less damaged
from the rough treatment they received.
Some of the other instruments which
lave interesting histories are the chrO-
pomeier which was issued 10 the Wilkes
exploring expedition which spent five
wears from 1887 to 1912, in making surveys
inthat part of the world. This chronometer
has had thirty-seven years active use and
was used SIX years more as " hack" sort
Of au extra instrument carried in all gov
crnnent vessels. Another IS "a chrOnomcter
made by Eggert and Is the first Amercan-
made chrOnOmeter purchased Ivy the gov
ernnent. THIS instrument was purchased
September t. 1899. at cost of $500. 1T has
had twenty eight wears service aioat and
l. still III use as " hack
In tins connection the naval Observable
~ has done a great work IN late years
which has so stimulated the American
manufacture of fine chronOmoters "a to
put this country in the front rank IN tho
manufacture Of fine instruments. This was
accomplished by advertising for strictly
American-made instruments which should
stand certain tests IN keeping time under
variations of temperature. humidity, po-
sltlOn, etc.
These tests are conducted through pc
Rod of six months and are very thorough
and impartial. The means bv which an
even temperature Is maintained IN the
testlnC-roOms forms an interesting exhibit
in itself. large mercurIal Thermometer,
whose lower end Is bent into the form of
spiral arc. with fine platinum wires IN
serted at either end. is the instrument used
for tins purpose. In each instrument the
top wire IL adjusted 80 as to Just touch the
top of the column of mercury at "a certain
mark on the scale, and by means of an
electric battery set IN an open circuit this
contact OF the mercury and the point of
tho platinum wire closes the circuit. Then
by means OF auxiliary mdgneto-electric
lnStfOuVntS N0lNe IN InB EdS-plpc
which supplies the fuel is so regu-
lated az 10 furnish an almost alb
so!utelv uniform temperature. These
thermostats, rs they are called, are adjust
ed for -. 60. and 20 degrees. and each Their
mometer Is LETT III the respective rooms
under the VARYING temperature aud con-
stantly compared with standard clocks and
tarOmeters. The required number of in
struments IA then ordered of the maker
Offering the instrument which makes the
best record.
CLOCKS OF ALL KINDS.
Another part of the thermometer ex-
bibit which Is of interest Is means bv
which these delicate instruments are car
RED from one point to another overland
THIS device Is nothing more complicated
than large old fashioned wicker basket
such AS are used by farmers wives TO send
eggs 10 market. and inside there is enough
raw cotton TO preserve the most delicate
specimens of hen fruit from injury.
The bottom of the basket is padded and
cushioned and never gets out Of the sight
OF the trusted agent who is charged with
the duty of conveying the delicate instru-
ments upon whose accuracy so much de-
ponds IN tho safety Of lives as well as pro-
perty.
In connection with the time measuring
instrument exhibit there il great display
OF clocks OF all kinds. Near the centre OF
the room and mounted on solid fonpda-
ton OF masonry Is standard astronomical