The evening times., 1899-12-14
THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
Report of the Board Of . Visitor
Given tn the Puhlle

been transmitted by the Public Printer to
the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs. to
which the report was referred after having
been transmitted to the Senate.
The board consists Of Senator William
e. Chandler. Representative Aston C.
Dayton, Prof. Edward C. Pickering, Prof
George c. Comstock. and Prof George E.
Hale.
The board says that in view Of the facts
brought before 1t at its several sessions
and after the best consideration which it
has been able to give to the subject 1t sub
mits the following:
The Naval Observatory, which was orig
inally established as a scientific bureau,
auxiliary 10 the needs Of the naval service,
has become, through half a century Of
growth and through the expenditure OF
large sums of money, as authorized by law,
an astronomical observatory Of the first
rank in respect Of buildings, instruments,
and equipment. But by far the larger and
more valuable part of its equipment has
little or no reference to any direct require
ment of the naval service, and its existence
can be justified only on the ground that
Congress has intended to establish and
maintain national astronomical obser-
vatory. Under these changed circum-
stances its continued connection with the
Navy Department has seemed to many OF
those whose views have been submitted
to the Board of Visitors illogical and unde-
sirable In view. however, of the absence
of national university, department of
science and Industries, or other department
or bureau of the Government especially
suited to the conduct of such scientific
work. and in view of the diversity of opin-
ion among American astronomers upon the
question to which the existing department
the observatory could be wisely transfer
red. we believe it to be inexpedient for us
at the present time to further consider the
subject of transfer.
with reference to the organization OF
the Observatory under naval administra-
tion. the Board of Visitors disapproves OF
those parts OF the Proposed organization
of the Naval Observatory submitted under
date September Z. 1897. by F. E. Chadwick.
Chief Of Bureau Of Equipment and c. II.
Davis. Superintendent United States Naval
Observatory, which require the establish
ment of a formal observatory council, tn
nominal functions. and which by omis-
sion practically abolish the office OF as
Economical director.
I'm the history of observatories We have
been unable to find case of successful
tronomer in immediate supervision OF the
work. and we believe that the ideal con-
ditions for the successful administration
of an astronomical observatory are most
nearly realized when professional astron-
omer is made the responsible director OF
the work This system, which is adopted
in every great national observatory; the
Board of Visitors believes to be one OF the
best suited to secure the astronomical efh-
nhcnr
If the Naval Observatory as shore
station, charged with the performance OF
certain functions assumed TO have reia-
ton to the navy. is to continue under the
command OF 4 line officer. we recommend
that the astronomical staff OF the Naval
Observatory shall consist of an astrononi-
cal director, four astronomers, three as
sistrst astronomers, and such compuiers
and other minor officers as may be provided
by law"
The board says that criticism frequently
urged against the administration of the Ma
val Observatory. which is not limited TO the
present time. but which covers almost the
entire period Of its existence. is that its as
Economical work has not been prosecuted
with that vigor and continuity of purpose
which should be shown in national OBJ
servatory The board recommends that
there shall be appointed by the President
from persons not officers of the United
States. board of nine visitors TO the Ma
val Observatory, six 10 be astronomers OF
high professional standing and three 10 be
eminent citizens of the United States. Ap-
poiutments to this board shall be made for
periods of three years, but provision shall
be made by initial appointments for shorter
terms so that two astronomers and one
member of the board not an astronomer
shall retire in each year. Members OF this
beard shall serve without compensation. but
the Secretary of the Navy shall pay the
actual expenses necessarily incurred by
members.
1t is said that the experience OF every
great observatory shows that the efficiency
of its staff is materially increased by the
provision of quarters near the observatory
rooms for those persons who are engaged
in work by night and the board urges that
such quarters be provided at the Naval OBJ
servatory.
The financial condition of the observatory
is reported as follows: r.
The total cost OF grounds and buildings
to July l, 1899, was s473,200; estimated
value of the grounds, buildings, and in
instruments. 1856 6,547.35: annual appropri-
ations for the year ended June so, 1899,
s51 .160. and annual appropriations for
grounds and roads for the same year, s11,-
are added several items paid for by the
Government. but not included in the above
appropriations. They include: First. the
salaries of the superintendent and other
line officers. detailed for duty at the OBJ
servatory; estimated amount, $4,000. Sec
ond, salaries of professors of mathemat-
les. There are now five OF these at the
Observatory. besides one temporarily Or
dered to the Bureau Of Yards and Docks:
estimated amount, $4,000. Third. retired
pay of professors of mathematics who
served as astronomers; estimated amount
$4,000. Fourth. cost of printing publica-
tions; estimated amount, $4,000. Accord !
ing to these estimates, the total annual |
cost to the Government exceeds sS5, 600, |
not including expenditures for the Naut- |
ical Almanac. |
The relative expenditures of large OBJ |
servatories are given: Naval observa-
tory $S5, 900; Paris, $4,000: Greenwich. |
s49. 900; Harvard. $4,000; Pull Kowa, s46.- |
900. and Cape of Good Hope, S33, 900.
PrOfecfed Hydrauts in DaNnOn