The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-01-14

Is it possible to build telescope suftl.
GENTLY powerful for us to see the cities OF
| Mars # such exist, and even the beings
| Which inhabit that planet?
A Philadelphian, Rudolph M. Hunter
| claims that he has invented an instrument
that will work these wonders. That such
| telescope would cost much money is a
| natural Inference. The telescope, accord
| ing to the statement of the inventor
should primarily be a national affair, and
| the achievements that would result would
therefore rebound to the glory of the
country as we'll as to the Individual scien-
fist.
According to the inventor it is simplv a.
question of supplying lenses In sufficient
quantities to bring close to earth the Won
ders OF the heavens. Where other tele-
scopes consist of one lens of the refraC-
tory kind measured simply by inches, the
Philadelphia inventor proposes to use any
amount OF lenses placed together in the
form OF reflector as shown distinctly in
the accompanying picture. BY this means
lens can be obtained of any desired size
and the sectional 5ref1ectors can be 50
ground and adjusted as to make one COM
pact whole
The greatest drawback to lens manu-
featuring so far has been the inability
OF the grinders to produce surface large
enough for doing the work intended.
Gradually the disks have grown larger,
1t Is true, but the best authorities are con-
ndent that the limit has been reached
and the greatest lenses at the Yerkes
and other large observatories are the eli
max in that particular kind Of lens con-
struction.
The illustration shows a lens SEVENTH
feet in diameter and the enormous re-
Hector has a magnifying power 500 times
greater than any known telescope of to-
day.
II propose to build a telescope Of such
magnitude that nothing need any longer
renain mysterious as far as the planets
are concerned,'' said the inventor; cor,
rather. it would be for the government
of the country to stand behind an enter
prise that is to he of untold benefit to the
nation and to man. I have no desire
to gain profit from my invention. The
great reflector as you see it. in the illustra-
ton will be supported at an angle upon
an Immense platform. This platform rests
on trucks that move on a circular or
rather spirallike track. The object of the
track? Simply the manner in which the
operator will be able to focus his enor-
nous instrument. BY moving the plat
form along the track one way or the other
the distance from the operator in the
tower can be heightened or lessened. Hy-
draulic power devices will change the
angle Of thu reflector in whatever direc-
ton desired. Electrical power is to be
the means of moving the reflector on the
track. and the smoothness of the carriage
will be something new entirely in locomo-
ton.
'Centrally disposed to the reflector
stands a tower capable Of being raised
or lowered by the aid of hydraulic power
Provisions are also made for the rotary
adjustment Of the platform in order to
enable the astronomer to follow the beam
OF light from the reflector under its ad-
1uStmPnf
the platform Is to enable the eyepiece to
Do brought into focus when the reflec-
tor has had its angle changed for different
attitudes. In this way the astronomer
can always keep the object In view. In
following a star or planet for any given
time he has simply to change tho Mat:
form adjustment instead OF auIus.lns ne
reflector
II speak advisedly when I state en-.
phatically that this telescope as proposed
by me will do work utterly impossible for
any other telescope to reach. An or
binary telescope of the largest size, let
us say with lens forty inches in di-
ameter, would have an area Of 1890
inches to receive the parallel rays which
are condensed into the eyepiece. In the
telescope in question the area would be
oOo1S4 square inches. In other words,
the magnifytng capacity would be 500
times as great. Is there any necessity for
saying where benefit would arise? The
Joined surface of the reflector would not
prove a h1ndrance any more than when
a Tine half-tone picture appears as SUBJ
divided when closely scrutinized.
That the moon is a dead planet has
perhaps been demonstrated through tele-
scopes in use. But what abou< Mars?
hrmly believe that here life exists in one
form or another, and that before another
decade we shall know for a certainty that
which has been hidden in the ages of the
past. The canals that have caused so
much discussion will be revealed in full
through the telescope have in view, and
whether Mars has giants among it's be-
1ngs or not will also be conclusively de-
cided. The simplicity of the instrument
or Which l speak can only be noticed by
those familiar with the ,intricacies of the
modern telescope. AS you will observe,
no observatory in the common under
standing of the term will be necessary.
The reflector must of necessity rest in the
open and be exposed to the elements when
in use. But when unemployed a store
house at the further end of the track will
receive the reflector under its roof. The
electrical power house will be located a
distance away from the track and part
OF the current will be transmitted under
ground.
'Five hundred times greater in magnf-
Tying power than any known telescope. I
say again. Is that not enough for the
m0of ant h,yCj CT Skr