The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-04-17
PLANNING THE BIGGEST TELESCOPE
VIII be Four Times Larger Than the
Yerxes Lens of Chicago.

Chicago, April 16.-A. II. Isham of
San Francisco, second vice president OF
the Worlds Proctor Memorial associa-
zion, is at the Great Northern. Mr..
1sham is a cousin of Edward S. Isham
of Isham, Lincoln & Beale. TIE is on his
way to Belfast, IHland, to confer with
Mrs. Proctor, the widow of the astron-
omer, Richard A. Proctor, and will
visit Washington in the interest of the
great project Of erecting the largest as
economical observatory in the world on
the sumit OF Mount San Miguel, near
San Diego, Cal.
This observatory is to be an inter
national one and Mr.. Isham's visit 10
Washington will be to call upon repre-
eentatives of the various governments
to secure their cooperation. The OBJ
servatory is 10 be fitted out with the
largest telescopes that have ever been
constructed and they are two in num-
ber.
The first is to have a lense FIVE times
the size Of that of the Lick and four
times the size of the Yerkes. This is to
be an experimental telescope and If it
proves what the projectors claim for it
IL will be purely a matter of mechanics
TO make larger lenses. The intention is
10 attempt the construction of a lense
fifty times the power of that of the
Lick observatory. This is to be done by
the adoption Of the Gathmann sectional
lenSe telescope.
Mr.. 1sham stopped in Chicago 10 con-
suit Louis Gathmann, the astronomer.
in regard to the matter. On October &c
last Professor Gathmann submitted 10
President R A Thomas Of the Worlds
Proctor Memorial association, at the
suggestion Of Mr.. Isham. a proposition
TO construct a telescope with a magn,,
Tying power four times that Of the new
Yerkes lense, and the indications are
that Chicago Will furnish the instru-
ment Tor this big project In speaking
of the Gathmann discovery. Mr. Isham
said that he considered him as one Of
the greatest astronomers Of the age.
He said that he believed that ne had
discovered the new law of optics and
that he had done more for astronomy
than any man since Calico.
The Worlds Proctor Memorial obser-
vatory is not new project. Ever since
the death OF the great astronomer. Sir
Richard \. Proctor. Mrs. Proctor has
been desirous of founding 4 memorial in
his honor. In seeking a site for the p-o.
posed memorial, she went 20 California
and her desire met a response Il. \. II
San Miguel. Mr.. Isham donated this 10
the great memorial and on July lSqA
the flag of the United States was raised
on the site OF the new observatory by
Mrs. Proctor. who dedicated the spot 10
the use Of science.
Mount San Miguel comprises about
1900 acres and has an elevation -
$500 feet. 1t is eighteen miles from and
has a commanding View Of san Diego
peninsula, and the Isle Of Coronado.
In speaking OF the methods Of organ
izing and sustaining the temple through
which a knowledge Of other worlds :
to be dispensed, Mr.. Isham said that Il
was to be purely an international ar
Fangement
Eve have organized under the laws
OF California" said be. IN order 10
secure funds for the construction and
maintenance OF the institution, which
is TO be a worlds memorial 70 one q
the worlds greatest scientists. il was
decided 10 ask all civilized nations 70
contribute, and that is partly the Cbjec.
of my visit 70 Washington and England.
We hope 10 get number Of individual
donations. Our bylaws fully set forth
that every nation contributing is to