The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-25

PHILADELPHIA July fa-There has
Just been opened for active usage group
Of buildings intended fer astronomical
use. which are likely 10 become famous
within short time. They are the OBJ
servatory buildings Of the University or
PENNSYLVANIA, and IN one OF them Is the
new Flower telescope 5y means Of wnteh
astronomers hope to read secrets or the
stars never yet revealed.
The lens of the Flower telescope is
marvel. II has no superior. IL an equal.
and the method CT its manufacture IL rs
peculiar rs are the qualities which II IS
believed to possess The observatory
stands on the crest Of range or hills
in Delaware county two miles from this
city. 1t has revolving steel dome
eighteen feet in diameter. The tuhe or
the telescope Is t~snty-eight feet long.
and il is moved about by means of clock
work.
Persons who have read Of recent as
Economical feats may remember that IT
was the lens OF this telescope which was
used by Prof. Percival Roweli the IA
nsous astronomer at flagstaff ARE.
when he made his marvellous observations
OF the canals of Mars. \ comprehensive
statement OF the facts regarding the OBJ
servatory buildings and their contents is
the following. which has been written Tor
this paper by Prof Henry =. Evans. IN
of Pennsylvania.
The University of Pennsylvania has
dedicated TO the cause Of science its new
astronomical observatory. The latter ~
very suitably located on the summit or
one OF the hills Immediately west OF the
city limits Of Philadelphia, beyond the
influence of the smoke and SCOT OF the
factories and the vibrations OF the seam
end electric railroads.
The ground on which il stands was pre-
sented to the university some years ago
for the purpose for which II is now used
by the late Reese Wall Flower. from
whom the observatory derives It's name.
The original intentions of the donor We're
not carried out however. until two years
ago when the present director, Prof.
Charles s. Doolittle, then professor OF
mathematics and astronomy al Lehigh
university. was called TO the similar chair
at Philadelphia. Under his direction has
versity Of Pennsylvania, one of the finest
and best equipped institutions for astro-
nomical research in existence.
First and foremost In this equipment is
the big equatorial TELESCOPES with its lS-inch
lens mounted In separate dome-capped
building of its own. All of the instruments
are from the makers OF the big Lick and
Yerkes telescopes. and In this, their lat
est productions, they have introduced ev-
cry convenience which mechanical ingenu-
ity could devise for the assistance and
comfort OF the observer. The lens which
is the largest one In this country east of
Washington. was made by Brashear in
Allegheny, and formed part of his ex-
hibit at the Worlds far in 1853
Mr. Brashear is the only man in the
world who has developed the art of grind
ing glass TO such a perfection that ne can
produce an absolutely fiat surface. He can
grind glass correctly TO any given outline
within one millionth of an inch. 1t would
be natural to suppose lens of his make
would be OF high standard of excellence.
The one he has made for the University of
Pennsylvania has been pronounced by ex-
perts 10 have TO superior. The telescope is
provided with the ordinary eye-pieces
screw micrometer for close measurements.
a spectroscope with prisms. gratIngs.
photogra phic attachments, etc. 1t stands
on pier of solid masonry. sixteen feet in
height. seven feet Of which Is underground,
the whole rests on a solid bed OF rotten
stone. and is totally unconnected with the
building which surrounds or shelters II.
Near by the home OF the equatorial Ii
the transit building. containing the mathe-
NAUTICAL instruments. In one end OF this is
a four inch zenith telescope of superior
finish and design, which the director uses
in carrying on his observations for the de-
termination of the variation of the posi-
ton of the north pole. The latter does not
remain fixed at one definite spot on the
surface of the earth. but moves slightly.
according to a some what complicated law.
Its whole range OF motion. however can be
included within circle of sixty feet In ra-
dius, and therefore. to determine its path
accurately, lorg series of most accurate
observations. extended over a long period
OF time, Is necessary. Such a series has
been carried on by Prof. poolittle with