New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
TO SEE THE SUN ECLIPSED.
NAVAL OBSERVATORY OFFICIALS OR
CANNING AN EXPEDITION
TO SUMATRA.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1nusE.I

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUNEJ
Washington Jan 12-Extensive preparations are
! being made by officials of the United States Naval
Observatory for the organization of an observation
party to leave Washington about February 10 for
Dutch Sumatra. reaching there in time for the
total eclipse of the sun. which occurs on May Is
The party has been chosen by the astronomical
director of the observatory, Professor S j. Brown,
and is to be under the leadership of Professor W.
X. Skinner. It will consist of Professors Skinner
and Echeberger Messrs. Jewel and Littell. assist
ant astronomers. and Mr.. Peters, the official pho
tographer. all of the observatory; Professor Bar
nard. of the Yerkes Observatory, Chicago Proles-
Humphrey. of the University of Virginia; FRO
fessor Abbott of the Smithsonian Institution; FRO
fessor Mitchell. of Columbia University and
Professor Gilbert, of Johns Hopkins. Arrange
ments have been made with the War Department
for accommodations for this party on the frst
available transport leaving San Francisco about
February % for the Philippines Arriving at
Manila, the members of the party will go aboard
one of the United States war vessels and sail for
the west coast of Sumatrd, the port where they
expect to land being Pedang. From these the party
will take the Symatan Railway, which is one nun
dred and twenty miles long. and ride about sixty
miles into the interior of the island AT this point
officers OF the Dutch Government will be on hand
to help establish an observation station Parties
representing the British and Dutch governments
are also to be present to view the ecHpse' Inc
party from Holland is to consist of Professor Wit
terduch, of Leyden. and Professor INLAND. of
Utrecht. both of whom observed the eclipse last
May in Georgia
The eclipse of the sun next May will be of espe-
cal interest astronomers all over the world De-
cause il is the most favorable of the century the
totality lasting minutes and 20 seconds whlch Is
only 20 seconds less than the maximum time Tor
the totality Of any eclipse of the The totaty
will occur about midday, and can only De seen
along a narrow strip in the Indian Ocean touch-
ing the islands of Sumatra, Borneo Ceieoes ana
New-Guinea The land 1t strikes is oelt aoout
hmm miles wide. The SclenIIlc
work will be conducted lines similar to the oo-
servations made last May, the scientists operating
chiefly the photographic telescopes ana photo-
graphic spectroscopes. Pains are being taken TO
improve the apparatus, and because Oh the GA
perlence gained last spring and the unequal dura-
ton of the eclipse it is thought that the oper-
ators will accomplish much more good work tnah
ever before. Certainly they can develop the same
scope of work to a higher degree of accuracy. II
has been predicted that much additional kno"i-
edge will be gained by these observations as Is
known on the subject Of eclipses at the present
time.
The remarkable success of the opservauoHs
made last May which largely due to the use
of modern instruments caused the Observatory as
tronomers first 10 consider the feasibility OF sehu
ing an observation party TO the East Indies. "'eh
II was finally decided to be advisable. congress
was asked to appropriate funds, and Dill was
passed by the House shortly before Christmas max
inc an allowance of $4,000. There seems 70 be
no question now that the money will be avaiia-
BILE in ample time. The families and friends OF
the observers have been prohibited from accom-
panying the party sumatra. owing TO the tedi-
BUSINESS Of the journey, as we'll as its expense
Each man was chosen because he was scentihc
worker especially educated in the class OF as
tronomy to be assigned to him. All the professors
are warm personal friends and have the utmost
confidence in the director, Professor Skinner
Talking of the expedition. Professor Skinner said
/ to-day:
Yes we are all anxious TO go, having FIRST made
: arrangements fer observations. so that we can
get exact facts. There is only one thing that can
cause the expeditions failure. and that is CLOUDY
weather The observation station will oe situated
at point on the island of Sumatra which Tlsht
be called the dividing line OF two seasons W hen
the rainy season ends one side II begins on me
other / shall in all probability cable TO TINS
Government concerning the weather conditlons
etc on the day Of the eclipse. and perhaps the re-
.