The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-08

for the site $3.50 acres) was granted
by Act of Congress June {, 1876; las
acres additional were purchased by MIR
Lick. The north half of section sixteen
of the township was granted to the
university, for the use of the observa-
tory, by the Legislature of California
in 1888. This land C520 acres) is con-
tinuous with the grant from the United
States. Congress also granted, in 1892
an additional tract of $50 acres, max
ing the total area of the reservation
about 2,5S1 acres A road to the sum-
nit of Mount Hamilton, 4,209 feet
above the sea, was built by Santa Clara
County, at a cost of about $4,000, in
the year 1876.
1t is hoped that the State will es-
tablish a forestry station on section
sixteen, above mentioned.
The observatory buildings are very
simple, solid and well suited to their
uses. The great thirty-six inch refrac-
tor is unsurpassed in excellence. The
gift of three-foot reflector, one Of the
largest and finest in the world, by Ed
ward Crossley, lately NJ P. for Hall
fax, England, has added companion
telescope of almost equal power. 1t is
not likely that any observatory now
planned will have an equipment more
effective than that Of the Lick Observa-
tory in its admirable situation.
Other smaller instruments are pro-
Vided, each suited to it's especial work.
Among them may be named:
The tWelve-inch equatorial Msed for
the observation of the positions of COM
cts, the measurements of double stars,
etc, etc.).
The six-and- -half-lnch meridian
circle (used to determine the positions
of stars and planets)
The six-and-a -half-inch comet-seeker
used for the discovery of comets, etc
Fourteen comets have been discovered
at Mount Hamilton since 1889
The five-inch photo heliograph 0sed
to make daily Photographic portrait
lenses make daily photographs of the
sun and sun spots
The five-inch Croker telescopes Ga
pair of effective Photographic portrait
lenses used to make photographs of
comets, nebulae the milky way, etc.).
The five-inch Floyd equatorial (used
to photograph and also to observe with
the eye).
used to determine time, latitude, etc.).
These instruments require a large
number of subsidiary pieces of appa-
aratus-a few of which may be men
toned:
The Mills spectroscope used with the
great telescope to photograph the spec
ira of stars).
The Bruce spectroscope Ito be used
with the Crossley reflector for the same
purpose)
The Bruce photometers Ito be used
with the equatorials TO measure the
brightness of the stars).
The seismonmeters Ito record the cir
cumstances of earthquake shocks and
tremors)
Many of these pieces of apparatus
have been presented by friends of the
observatory-Me ssrs. D. O. Mills, G. F.
Croker, Edward Crossley, Miss Cath
crime Wolfe Bruce, Miss Floyd and
others
The instruments of the observatory
have cost about $4,000; it's buildings,
etc, some $49S, 900. The total cost of
the establishment Cup to 1889 was
100000. The balance of Mr.. Lick S
gift $1,000, is invested as an endow-
ment fund. The interest on this sum
is entirely inadequate for the support
of the institution, and the deficiency is
made up, so far as is practicable from
the university income. The Lick OBJ
serVatory is magnificently equipped,
but it is insufficiently endowed It's
chief wants are the establishment OF
a number of felloWships in astronomy,
and the provision of a special library
fund In our isolated situation the
need of large professional library is
sorely felt There is, at present, no
means to publish the observation which
have been amassed.
1t IS quite impossible in the present
place, to speak of the scientific work
of the observatory in any detailed way
During the nine years of its existence
the observatory has taken a foremost
place among the great observatories of
the world Although it's income is
scarcely a third of that of the great
observatories of Greenwich, Paris and
st. Petersburg, and althogh it's scien-
tlf1c staff has never consisted of more
than eight persons as against thirty
to fifty observers in those establish
ments, yet its activity has been ex-
tended over many fields, and it's re-
searches in each field have been schoI-
arly and thorough, and it's discoveries
of high interest and value
Through the generosity of a friend of
the observatory, w. w. Law. of New
York City, the publication of a large
map Of the moon in some sixty sheets
from negatives taken with the great
telescope, is now in progress. Other
Photographic plates of the milky way.
comets, etc, are to be issued also.
The regular publications of the OBJ
serVatory are usually technical in char
acter, and are not for general distribu-
ton. We are often asked how those
interested in astronomy who are not
professionals. can keep themselves in
formed of the progress of the science
at Mount Hamilton and elsewhere. This
may very we'll be done by joining the
Astronomical Society of the Pacific and
receiving its journal
Each issue of the publications of the
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
contains notices from the Lick Observ-
atory, which are brief accounts of the
scientific work of the institution. pre-
pared by the astronomers Especial
pains are taken to put these accounts
into simple and popular form The
history of the observatory can be fol-