The herald., 1894-06-09
TO TOP THE LICK ONE inch.
Southern California Proposes to
Have a Big Telescope Also.
The New Observatory Will Start in
Comet Catching.
1t WIN BE Erected on Mount Lowe
1900 Feet Above Sea Lsvei-It
Will BE in Charge of Pros
lessor Swift.

Mt. Hamilton, and listened with secret
rage in their hearts to all the talk about
36-inch refractors and new comet discov
cries. They have we'll realized that tc
the tourist from the frost-bitten east the
giant Lick telescope is an attraction
second to nothing in the state, says an
exchange. But their time is coming
and they propose ere long, to divert the
tide OF travel southwark with teles'
copic reflector one inch larger than the
big glass through which Professor Hol'
den does not make discoveries.
The new telescope, and incidentally
the observatory surrounding 1t, is to be
| set up on the top OF Mount Lowe,
already famous by reason OF the Mount
Lowe railroad, triumph OF modern en-
cheering. The new observatory will
be in charge OF DR.. Lewis Swift, the
venerable astronomer, formerly OF Roch-
ester, N. Y. He ia now permanently
located on Echo mountain, near Pasa-
dena. Los Angeles county, and is super
intending the erection Of the temporary
observatory he is to have charge of on
an excellent site, $500 feet above the
sea. overlooking the San Gabriel valley,
and near to the great hotel on Echo
mountain.
The site has already been named by
Dr.Swift UrRnia. and the observatory will
be known as the Lowe observatory.
The dome is to be so feet in outside
diameter, one inch lees than the Warner,
with 15.inch track on the walls, upon
which the dome will revolve with wheels
running freely in pairs, and not all
connected together as lie the ordinary
method. The shutter will be in two parts,
each side OF the aperture receiving a por-
ton OF it when open. An entirely new
method of DIR. Swiit's own devising
will be employed in operating this
shutter, which, he claims, surpasses
anything ever before used. This
observatory only being for temporary
purposes--to answer for present use
until the great Lowe observatory on the
highest peak OF the Sierra Madre
mountains is completed-its dome will
be covered with duck canvas and
painted to exclude moisture. 1t is
probable the observing room will have
two wings for the accommodate of the
necessary scientific instruments which
60 to make up the equipment of an
observatory such as DR.. Swift needs for
the pursuance of his researches.
The telescope for which this observa-
tory is being constructed is the 16-inch
refractor donated to DR.. Swift by the
ublic-spirlted citizens OF Rochester, at
the same time that Warner, the ''saie
cure" man, erected him an observatory
on East avenue. 1t was made by Alvan
Clark OF Cambridgeport, Mass, the best
maker in the world, and MIR. Clark him
ao1f 81 fxi, In
better one in my lite." Its focal length
is % feet; the height OF the object glass
from the floor W hen pointing toward the
zenith is "a feet. The interval between
crown and flint lenses is So inches. The
tube is of steel, IA inches in
diameter at the eye end and en-
larges to IS inches in the middle
and at the object end. The object
finder attached to the telescope is 81
inch glass. Besides these instruments
DR.. Swift brings with him 41a-inch
comet seeker, valuable sidereal clock,
made by Howard of Boston, Brashear
spectroscope with both prism and graf
ing, so that it can be used either for
celestial or laboratory work, together
with the necessary micrometers, etc..
needed Tor a complete equipment.
In an interview had with DR.. Swift
today he appeared as hale and hearty as
young man in the prime OF life, for,
although he is "A years OF age, little
deaf. and walks slightly lame owing to
an accident when child, he is jolly.
buoyant and happy. How old am l ?"
he replied. "Well, don't you see / only
have birthday every four years like
periodic comet, so Pm not 30 old az
most men !"
"What work will chiefly engage your
attention on Echo mountain ?" he was
asked.
sob, shall stick to the nebule and
comets. Up to 1882 l was mainly
comet-seeker, and, as you know, dis
covered quite number, but when got
the 16-inch reflector | began to look for
nebule, which l felt sure the Herschels
had overlooked. Up to now have dis
covered $50 which the observers OF the
world had not found. / shall have more
clear nights for my work here than any
other searchers after nebulse and comets
in the world; twice ss many as Brooks,
at Geneva, N. Y"
"What other comet-searchers of re-
nown are there besides yourself and
Brooks ?"
Barnard ct the Lick observatory and
Denning of Bristol, England. We four.
| think, are the best known workers in
that line. On Echo mountain | ehsll
have nine degrees OF declination didn't
have in Rochester. and as most observa-
tories are good way north of this, l
shal have a field that has never been
explored. Indeed, / am quite anxious
to get to work, and hope to find
comet right away to celebrate my arrival
here"
"How many comets have you discov-
cred ?''
well, that depends on what you
mean. | think | have discovered and
lost many comets. Altogether | am
credited, however, with nine distinct
discoveries. Four of those were indie
pendent and were not found by any one
elee. mean that there has never been
any doubt as to my being the only as
tronomer that called attention to these.
The others | discovered ahead of other
amen, but they about the same time
called attention to them. But
am sure have also found
several which 1 Immediately lost
through clouds coming on and obscuring
the view. OF four oi my comets one has
a periodic movement OF 51a years, Que
of ga years, one of 1913 years and one Of
$1,000 years. All the others are probably
parabolic. The last Comet found had
nine uaila, and Barnard made some good
photographs of it. We call it the cat
o'nine-taiis.'
what is your theory in regard to
cometa?"
Ieyk = L. sal