The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-25

reason why u takes no long time as TWO
years 80 complete II and explains why
could GOT work on II more ssan few hours
last winter"
Fer seine months past TIE glass has lain
CT is revolving hed 81 IRE little workshop
awaiting order FOR is disposition from ire
heads % TIE university ar Washington
Dr.. Peate notified them % SIS completion
but nothing was done to have TIE glass re-
moved. Finally Dr. Fezts, who IL a nan az
prompt s-tf0a. wre.e 20 the chancellor OF
she university and .oI3 him that he dsi
rot longer wish 70 have the responsibility
OF caring for ths delicate glass. A reply
came Il the form OF az order for the trea
transportation % \ parcel fro-a Green
vile. Pa 80 Washington. .. C.. ard a
| letter from Bishop Hurst head OF tia
sehaoi. directing Dr.. Pea.s 10 ship ;hs
glass as soon As convenient
rraasportiag the Lens.
Accordingly the glass was packed with
insnits care ard every safeguard 10 pre-
vent even 50 much as a pin scratch mar
ring lis perfect polish
DR.. Psate had an iron hand ciamced
about the Ieas. and outside cf that ne bent
two other ir0n bands. TIE ends % which
pass Up tarouza the top edge OF the case.
where they are securely riysted- BY this
means tie glass Is kept constantly vertical
and literally hangs ii rs case having
enough play on padded cushions TO escape
:aa s@vsrest Jar. The whole case -
mounted on a wheeled truck that allows OK
its being handled wit, ease.
However. delay has occurred because
OF the fact that thu express company has
no office IN Greenville and the glass has
no, get been shipped.
-
given telescope lens while X is being
made there - one nnal and best one that
can only Dc made when il Is completed
Taxt Is 10 search the sky with il. Dr.
Peats has twice pu: hts glass TO that final
test and has twice proved IL OFFICIALLY per-
feet.
1t was while the great lens was resting
In its carrying case that he conceived the
idea CO turning * On the heavens. Accord
trgiy &c silvered its face Then he wheeled
the case out onto small platform IN the
rear Of the workshop Thirty two feet cut
from the platform he constructed rough
scaIoldi1g. Thirty-two feet Is the distance
from the face Of the big mirror a. which
It's rays OF reflected light are focused He
had next constructed a1-foot wooden arm
made like huge crateh. TIE open ends OF
this he placed on either side OF the glass
ard The other closed end was raised to the
top OF the scaToldlng. On II he placed the
eye-piece. through which the focused light
Is admitted 10 the eye. Then fitting the
glass back as far as he could one starry
night few weeks ago. the venerable as
trononer climbed up his rickeiy scaffold
and during four hours sat unconfortabiy
on the topmost round OF the ladder study
ing the heavens and searcairgiy noting the
working OF his precious mirror.
II was the greatest optical pleasure I
have had since | began the study o. as
arl - Ii
said There l sat perched on the top
round OF my ladder for four long hours.
l did not feel the cold. nor the hard ladder
under ne ! forgot everything save the
magnificent spectacle Of the heavens which
my dig glass revealed 20 my eyes II was
impossible for me 10 turn the glass on any
familiar star or on the young moon. I
could oniy get 1t on vacant spot in the
heavens near the constellation OF Corhus.
below the dragons tail OF Hydra Blu. in
that space empty 10 the human eve and
even 10 fairly powerful glass, I saw M.
msrous beautiful stars. Il was a splendid
panorama. sor not being able to move my
glass. / had perforce 10 be content with
watching tie heavens slowly pass across
the surface OF the mirror star after star"
The Peate lens. for such 1t viii undoubt-
edly be called. will be mounted as an eaua-
t0rtal IN tube something over % feet in
length.
The cost Of so mounting (. will run IN
into the thousands Of dollars. Telescopes
20 be mounted as this one are called New
toniaE telescopes. because OF the principal
Of interior arrangement
Operation of the New Teiescope.
The mirror is perpendicular to the axis
and the reflected rays falling on a small!
inciined-plaue mirror At the focusing
point are turned out 10 enc side of the tube
into the eye piece. The essential difference
between the Peate and the Terkes lenses
IS NOT only one OF size. the former having
4 diameter greater by twenty-five inches
than the latter. but also Of principle, the
Psats glass being reflector and tia
Ieraes refractor. In other words. the
heavens are seen in the Peate lens and
through the Yerkes.
Refectors are superior 10 refractors in
ease % construction ana cheapness in pos
sihls size and In perfect achronlatism bu,
they are inferior in the amour, OF light
that Is available. in definition and In per
nanence or durability. Ref.ectors are sa-
perior. however IN one most importan,
branch OF modern astronomy. namely:
Spectroscopic Investigations OF the sun,
stars and nebulae. including photography,
In which respects a reflector. because OF
Us absolute freedom from color Is FAR ST.
perior 20 refractor.
d.. Peate's mammoth spectrum Is ex-
cee1e1 II size only BY tire metallic one in
Lord Roses is.cioas telescope at BIrr Cas-
tie, pa-sonstowa. Ireland which Is six fee,
II diameter. ], Is not il use and Dr.
Peate's mag be considered as the larges. in
Il