The Portland daily press., 1896-06-27

done through the Gathmann discovery.
The lens is the great item in a telescope.
When the size of the glass goes above
thirty inches. according to Mr.. Gath
mann, my authority on the subject, "a
sectional lens can be produced for one
tenth the expense of an entire single lens.
AS the size increases the proportion of
difference in cost grows in favor of the
sectional lens. Another thing is the GER
tainty of securing perfect lens.
In proportion to its size an entire
glass is liable to meet with accidents and
to contain imperfeotions-and the larger
it is the more certain it is to contain
flaws and to invite accidents. 1t is hard
ly too much to say that every large en-
tire lens in existence is full Of flaws. 1t
would be hard to find one so perfect that
it could be cut up and all it's fractions
used for microscope lenses. On the con-
trary, 1t is easy to make a small glass
and make 1t absolutely without flaw.
AS the sectional lens is made of many
small glasses, one may count with GER
tainty on securing perfect results.
Many months are required in the cool
ing of large lens from it's original mol
ten state, the temperature being hover a
degree or two each day. Even, then it
stands to reason that the rim and all the
outer surface cool quicker than interior
or central particles, and as consequence
the exterior surfaces reach greater
density than the interior. This is often,
fatal as to results for perfect refrao-
tion can only be secured by lens which
is of absolute uniform density. When
one portion of a lens is even one fou p
hundred-thousandth part of an inch out Of
adjustment, it effectually mars the result
in obtaining observations. Clear wealth
er is most frequently cold weather; the
large glass varies in it's different proper
tions in contracting under the influence
of the cold, and this explains why as
tronomers are frequently unable to get
good image of a planet when the sky is
perfectly clear. All this is done away
with in the sectional lens.
II have come East as special COM
missioner for the purpose of appearing
before our Government and the Ambas-
sailors of all Governments in the inter ests
of this proposed temple of light and in
the interests of the new discovery in te:e-
scopes whereby the power possible to be
derived from sectional lens is simply
question of mechanics, and simultan-
eously make known and to become part
of the proposition, all susbtantiated by
official documents, that Mrs. Richard
A. Proctor visited different parts of The
world and finally discovered that Mount
San Miguel situated about fourteen miles
east of San Diego, Cal, United States of
America, with an elevation of about 8, 800
feet, patially enciroled and we'll sheltered
by great range, is enveloped by All
atmosphere practically free from vibra-
tions and wonderfully clear After
thorough and prolonged observation with
the telesc ope, Mrs. Proctor settled upon
this mountain top as the one proper spot
upon which to build the World Proctor
Memorial Observatory and Temple of
Light. In view of these facts, the noun
tain top has been acquired; the Worlds
Proctor Memorial Observatory Associa-
tion has been duly organized under the
laws of the State of California, with
Richard A.sThomas, president; John f.
Kinney, first vice president; John H.
Thompson, secretary; Thomas e. Met
calf, treasurer; N. H. Oonklin and John
D. Works, with bylaws providing for
Commissioners from all States aud Gov
ernments, whereby humanity the world
around may join in the great work the
world now sets out to do. Tt Is proposed
to raise $500, coo, which amount will on
able the complete construction of Gath
mann lens warranted to possess five
times the power of the Lick at Mount
Hamilton, Cal, and when this shall have
been achieved and all the grandness of
the object appreciated, the world, it is
believed, will readily construct greater,
and a greater and greater oue.''