Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-18
SUN. MOON AND STARS BROUGHT TO EARTH !!

this and more can be justly claimed fof
the Yerkes Observatory now in process
of construction at this place. Jhe l.al.
ing is nearing completion and W.l soon
be ready for the inspection ~ tha de-
voices OF science. IL is a picturesque
building outwardly, and the design s
unique one. The observatory is So iom-
ed as to take the shape of Latin loa
tho extremities comprising three towers
or domes. The length Of the building is
S26 feet, and the main dome under which
the great telescope will repo- Is 90 .a..
in diameter.
A MONSTER TELESCOPE
It IS in and around this main dome ll''
the chief interest centres me t"'
other towers will contain TELESCOPES y.
one a Pinch and the other O. l5-.lel. --.
these do not begin 10 compare ln M
Importance with the 4)-inch monster ---
der the main dome.
one remarkable thing about ils Na-
dome is that IL revolyes OBJ D.
track. carried by the lower Walls A.'
was the ingenious way in which -he -ien'
tect surmounted the difficulty n cone
structing a dome in which BE- W's A.o
sarv 10 give the telescope lI.e pay -
sweeping the skies. Like The ,uitst gi
warship. the dome from whence l
trudes tho great Nerkcs FMS rlm-Ni ..-
be moved at the will of am operator
that IL points IN any direction -.
The device for swinging The dome N'o-
is a very simple ane convenient ono i''
track Is a rail resting ON % CASTOR"
eirder bolted TO the masonry. Tho "l.'
by which the dome reyolves on iie t-.A
are 90 in number, and th. Journals
fitted with roller bearing ana 4l'
constructed that the wheel adjust mem
selves TO any chance ined IailIes DID --
smoothness Of the track.
HOW THEY WORK
Without going into the technical de.-s
that are 50 tiresome 10 the ai $780,
this IS the way the dome and DIS s'-'
telescope are made 10 rev0lye. By A''.
Of an apparatus located IN the lower I'.
of the building. the dome can ua m''.-
either by hand or power MACHINERY! ---
an endless cable wound around the l.-.
and connecting with this mt.-
causes the dome 10 reyoiye ON Us i..."
BY starting this cable IN motion -- -.-'
is moved in either direction.
The amount Of work and care iff.'N
IN designing and constructiug obs -.
can scarcely be imagined even li
who studies critically the accom-
illustration OF the building OK ODD. a.
Of the big dome. IL was necc f 70
ercise the greatest care lest dlla
OF the atmospheric dlsturblnc.- .l
mon TO this part of the country,
aster should occur before tl.
parts OF the dome were solidy
GREAT ANXIETY WAS tlii.
Besides the difficulty OF clns.a
this revolving dome. piece by l. .
was the delicate work Of tf l'
telescope and the machinery tl
IL Is operated. All this was oou'
and methodically, and without
of any kind. The likelihood of 81.
dent was so great, however, ti-.
In charge OF tho work have
perfect fever OF anxiety since .
and only now that the worst i o'
they beginning 20 breathe tree.5
WELL ILLUMINATE.
OF the monster that ls hou.
great dome, Professor George I-
director OF the Yerkes Obserfa.9..' @
In addition 10 the ordinary
for actuating the quick and Slow
ara clamping the telescope con-.
system OF electric motions. clam
illumination s. provided. COW
placed switches az the eye end I'I
equatorial head enable tho observer
his assistant on tho balcony t'
stop tho slow-motion motors $500
clamp or unclamp IN right asce'
declinatlon by simply prc ..l
The quick motion motors are
from the balcony by switch.s
tho eye end by. cords. Tho ch,.
Illuminated by incandescent lamps
nected with switches az the eye s-
on the head. Provision is also
electric Illumination OF the m.'.
wires. ,..
THE forty-inch objective OF tne
telescope was made at Comou. ...
Mass. from disks furnished by N.'.
OF Paris. The crown lens IS ap'.. .,I
and a half inches thick at the e'a.I b,
three quarters OF an inch at the tla-
weighs 900 pounds. The ien". .,.
mounted upon aluminium BEARING sd
iron cell"