The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-14
Some of the Achievements of the
Noted Lens Manufactures.
Boston Special.

Boston Special.
Alvan G. Clark. who died at his home,
in Cambridge, last Wednesday, was famed
throughout the world both as a telescope
maker and an astronomer. He was especial
ly well known as the manufacturer of the
great Yerkes lens, the largest in the world.
This however, was only one of many Won
derful objective glasses he made for fam
Gus obserVatories. Through this means his
name became familiar to astronomers ev-
erywhere, but his discoveries of new stars
alone have given him undying fame. The
result of his early work, aided by his faith
er, was the construction Of a hVeIlnch re
lites of Jupiter, the rings of
Saturn and other telescope OBJ
jects Then followed in gradual
succession the pinch telescope for the
Vienna University, 1212-inch for Morrison,
151a-inch for Wisconsin, 20-inch for Warren
Observatory, 1872 inch for Northwestern
University, 20-inch for Denver, 23-inch for
Princeton, 26-inch for Virginia, 26-inch for
the United States naval observatory, 90
inch for Russia and 26-inch for the Lick OBJ
servatory of California, and finally the
great Yerkes lens.
AS a boy Mr. Clark learned the trade. of
a machinist and worked with his brother
George on the manufacture OF objective
glasses for telescopes. The elder Clark,
Alvan his father, had established a busI-
and in 1852 young Alvan became member
of the firm of Alvan Clark & Sons. After
the death of his father and his brother he
continued the firm name. 1t was the Clark
firm that ground the 1S12-inch refractor for
the old University of Chicago, which is
now used in the telescope OF the North
western University. 1t was through this
that Mr.. Clark made the most important of
his astronomical discoveries. His was the
first eye to peer at the stars through the
perfect lens. In order to try the new
glass he turned it upon Sirius, the great
star near the southern horizon SIRIUS, or
the dog star" is the largest In the SKY at
least in apparent size, and one or the most
interesting. This great blazing sun mad
been gazed at by many trained observers s
that very near and revolving around 1t was
a companion, or planet, perhaps, whose
light if it had much light, had been
eclipsed by the great volume OF light ra-
dated from Sirius
Mr.. Clark's father was standing near by
when the son trained the telescope on the
After looking for a moment or TWO at the
bright image In the telescope young clark
turned TO his father and remarked quietly:
why, father the star has a companion
Other eyes then looked and the younger
Alvans fame was secure. Many could see
the companion once they knew of its exist,
ence. The discovery was soon announced
to the world, and in time the French I'M
perial Academy of Science rewarded the
optician and astronomer With one of It's
highest honors-the Lalande medal for 1862,
To Mr.. Clark's credit must be placed the
discovery in all of fourteen intricate double
stars. In fact he almost rivals the great
Professor Burnham now of the YerkeS tele-
scope, for his work in this line. His chief
claim to fame as an astronomer, however,
planet, or companion sun of Sirius
Through the marvellous power of the I'M
mense 36-inch refractor for the Lick tele-
scope in California a new body was added
to the solar systematic fifth moon of Jupi-
ter-by the faithful observation of Profess
sor Barnard. Mr.. Clark finished that then
peerless glass in 1887, and it was predicted
that many years would pass before 1T would
be surpassed. But greater triumph for
his skill as an optician was soon to come.
The University of Southern California, in
order to out-Lick Lick, ordered a 44-inch
refractor from Mr.. Clark. The disks were
cast, but owing to financial troubles fol-
lowing the collapse OF the boom In Los
Angeles they were left upon his hands I'M
called for.
When it was decided by the University of
Chicago to erect a telescope larger in aper-
ture than that on Mount Hamilton, Mr..
Clark was called to Chicago and arrange
ments were made to take up the disks or
dered by the Californians. Four years ago
the grinding began. and it was only the
other day that Mr.. Clark saw the Yerkes
telescope turned upon the stars and knew
that the greatest effort of his remarka BILE
life-the greatest effort of any man in OPP
ticS-WaS a success
Mr. Clark outside of his discoveries in
double stars, did little astronomical work
He was a member of the expedition that
went to Kentucky in 1869 to observe the
eclipse of the sun in that year, and he was
also a member of the expedition in 1870 to
Spain and of 1878 to Wyoming for similar
purposes. He was pleasant, genial man,
of generous disposition, not caring much
for money but having an infinite pride and
from Thomas Clark, who was said to have
been the mate of the Mayfower and who
was the first of the pilgrims to step upon
American SOIL