New-York tribune., 1900-10-07
THE NEW PARIS TELESCOPE
.,r YET FINISHED. But IT MAY COME
TO AMERICA.

-,- VET FINISHED. But IT MAY COME
TO AMERICA
=. meeting OF the astronomy anc physics
-, n the New York Academy OF sciences
ssO''e- ..,,gs ago. Professor ]. K. Rees spoke
.-s.av and informally regarding some OF the IN
- -,s-,s shown at the Paris Exposition this
- Through his observations OF variation OF
80. and his study Of the constant Of aber-
-, - Professor Rees has long enjoyed an In
+so-si reputation among astronomers. This
,-os recognized by an invitation TO serve
: +be Exposition jury on optical apparatus
- - participate in the international CONFER
=. y astronomers IN Paris this summer lie
= also he delegate Of the United States IN
=. congress on chronometers.
one q ts,e instruments on when FroIessoI
z.es was obliged 20 pass judgment ana III
...b ne would naturally take deep interest
-.s The Exposition telescope, concerning "hich
-.s- authorizations had been aroused. It's aper-
80 * 80 inches, while the next largest refrac-
- - the world. the Lick and the Yeriles tele-
..,,as are respectively sc and 10 inches in
.s,snerer. The scientific world has been anxious
= know whether the Paris glass would prove
equally superior in optical qualities
NOT Up TO REPRESENTATIONS
4-ofessor Rees told the Academy that when
.sa s1rv came 10 examine the instrument only
he photographic object glass was completed
end ready for service. The visual objective had
not been finished. In fact, the two huge disks
~ crown and flint glass which had been pro
v,6ed for that purpose were included in the Ex
,osftion exhibit OF the late n. Mantois, who had
cast them, a great deal Of disappointment was
ssI- over the failure Of the authorities TO COM
plete the instrument, after using il as a bait 10
ths public 10 attend the show. In this respect,
-aS hum hing
Tnder the circumstances. the jury felt unable
- reach decision as 10 the merits Of the tele-
s,ope. As The Tribune has more than once
nointed out, the Photographic and visual OBJ
4ectives Of g telescope are so different that or
dinarily one is not used TO co the work Of the
other However. as a temporary makeshift,
color screen was occasionally adjusted to the
sve end Of the Paris instrument, and thus il was
rsde. possible 10 use the latter for seeing With
-be telescope IN this condition a number Of
favored visitors were permitted to look through
he glass al celestial objects suited to test its
efficiency But the results Of these experiments
we're very unsatisfactory.
Professor Rees had heard that those who
were financially responsible for the telescope
had made an offer 70 finish and sell il 10 the
--ia0w Of Senator Hearst. and that she had the
matter under consideration, with a view TO pre-
ssnrtrg the instrument 10 the University OF
California. which already has the Lick ObseFVa-
+o-v under its control The Professor, while
-ec5Enizing the generosity Of the Impulse that
would irnpel Mrs. Hearst TO carry OUT such
scheme ventured to express the nope thai sne
would not commit herself TO II without stpuIal-
ing in advance that the instrument "heh cOlIi-
-1s-ea should be submitted TO dislnterested and
competent experts for approval
THE OBSTACLES ARE GREAT.
Those who are familiar with the difficulties in
,,der+ % making. mounting and using large
telescopes have had serious misgivings as TO the
-oee3Filftv Of producing a larger refractor than
trcsA Al Mount Hamilton and Williams Bay
O,a embarrassment that had been anticipated.
- bending Of the great lens through us own
-essb- snd 6exibility. when moved from
nearly vertical position 10 one appToacn4ils lile
horizontal was obviatea al the EAPoslioh os
p-s--.-s The tube was to remain horizontal
er5 me glass would always rest on It's cage.
rrra image Of sun moon or other ceIestlal oo-
.a-+ - be examined or photographed would be
-ssaaa~tss Nf,7ro The instrument by an immense
mirror driven by clockwork Telescope oI l1is
+,--.a e cs He'd q siderOsrat, or heh0stat
Tur with the risk Of heXure removed Il yet
remained 70 shape the glass. Here again the
6.ficulties increase all out Of proportion 10 the
size Of the lens. Alvan Clarks sons oN5IcalIe I
them in the case Of the LICK ana the 1eIhes
telescopes, but more than one expert ~ ~Iea-so
thai the limit was thus reached fIuInoTs wee
cr--rert two or three years ago that the pro
iectors Of the Exposition telescope haq mace
1,-e-ruras 10 the leading telescope makers OF
Europe and America in regard 10 conyertIhs
into lenses the blocks Of glass which NJ Malitols
had made for this purpose. Sut LOT one Iea,Ii Ist
or another no one who had achieved hlgA
re7ura-iou for this class Of work could oe N
duczd 70 undertake Il. No doubt the 5 IhaoT
---e-a r-ornisa Of payment interfered largely
win the success OF the efforts Of the projectors.
However the task was finally committed 10
F-sncbrnan named Gautier, who had MADE the
rb0t0graphic objectives Of number OF le1e
scopes q moderate size. In MS tax 20 @ lie
Academy Of Sciences Professor hees u!o - t1
cr3rirfsa II CSautier's work. SO Tar as II mas
beer carried. but confined has disparagenent 10
-bosa Who were responsible for the fallure 70
4nish The instrument. Still. as 10 the oes4.d-
FTr[- ~ exscring strict conditions for eXaTnlna-
Ton by competent persons before buylhe lAe
Instrument he was very urgent