The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-26
An ARTIFICIAL MOON.
,,, eoRM OF ILLUMINATION FOR
NV'' COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY.

o,.r Tn the Dome-Rays of Eight
80 lights Are Thrown Upon the White
s''.,.-Aii the Electrical Mechanism Is
Hidden.
,obeme of illumination as beautiful
. !. original is in operation in the
n ~ library of Columbia university in
Ds~ York BY system of reflected
, So a big white moon' whose iumi'
i ms rays will light the whole interior,
nO'9 srsnended from the dark blue
background of the dome
Although electricity alone is used
= ,ha most intense rays from arc
'-S.. are focused through strong lens
~ the great white sphere, the reflect
..d;orce of the moon consists of rays
.oft and dilfused that it is refreshing
tho sight. The students. in consult
". Volumes in the library, while re-
ne ;,irc the benefit of the light above
.som will be in nowise Inconvenience
byit % ho,,o
..Iors seven feet in diameter. con.
. .lr.roted Of wood and painted q dull
~s;ts II is suspended 80 feet from the
S Sn. by wire cable and hangs just
0Soye the four great arches of the libra
- 50 that when the light is thrown on
4 tbe arches are in shadow.
On the second floor of the library, in
ho recess below every one of the four
Great windows, is stationed a row OF
Sookehelyes. In the corners Of every
row stands an unobtrusive box Of finish
al oak about five feet high. There is
M covering to these boxes, and in the
dpnth of each burns a powerful arc
EGbt whose rays are directed through
lens toward the wooden ball
The strong electric lights, so painful
n the sight. are entirely hidden. The
EIGHT boxes in their respective corners
seem portions of the woodwork. Even
on the floor above, cropping among the
hooks on the shelves, the entire insight
" electrical mechanism was hidden
from view.
Every one Of the eight rays is about
rs feet long, and their combined radi-
ance covers about three-fourths OF the
ball The wooden sphere is intensely
illuminated and diffuses light which
is similar to moonbeams
George H. Baker. the librarian, said
that the invention was the idea OF
Charles McKim, an architect.
1T took lot of study to evolve a
system of illumination that would be
in harmony with the handsome decora-
tons of the library" said Mr.. Baker.
"A great chandelier suspended from
/ the dome would have been decidedly in
appropriate. Had lights been stationed
| here and there over the arches they
would have confused the eye. 1t was
necessary to devise an illumination that
would disclose the dome and lend a
cheerful air to the library. "
Mr. Baker expressed himself as de-
lighted with the artificial moon. He
said that the readers at the tables would
be supplied with the ordinary shaded
lights.
The idea of the artificial moon was
put into practical operation few days
ago in the old library of the Columbia
university and proved itself great sue
cess although rays from only about
three arc lights were thrown Oh the
sphere.
The experiment was made under the
direction Of William Hallock, professor
OF physics, and Charles McKim, the
architect
Although the idea of a globe suspend
ed from the center of the dome was EN-
bodied in the inception of the architect
plans it was originally intended to con.
'truct metal sphere to represent the
globe and surround it with a circle OF
mcandescent lights New York Her.
aid