New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-26
THE PASSING THRONG.

Professor Edward c. Pickering d. ector OF the
Harvard College Observatory. was az the Fifth
Avenue Hotel yesterday. with
$4,000 GIFT FOR DR.. Daniel c. Gilman. head of
HARVARD'S the Carnegie Institution. and Dr.
OBSERVATORY. S. Weir Mitchell of Philadelphia.
The three met work over
plans for the Carnegie Institution. but nothing
definite enough for publication has yet resulted.
But I free to talk about the Harvard Oh
servatory." Professor Pickering said last night
The latest there is the receipt of anonymous
gift of $4,000 1t came unsolicited. and is thrice
vaIua Bile because no restrictions put its use
1t will relieve at once a very urgent need of the
observatory. The building provided nine years ago
for the astronomical photographs has become en-
tirey inadequate Half OF the fund will be used 10
enlarge the building enough to care for the in
crease OF twenty years. We have now 10000 photo
graphs, making complete record of the heavens.
both Of the northern and southern skies, for the
last twelve II is historical library of the
sky There is nothing like II elsewhere. We
go to a shelf, take down plate and tell YOU the
condlton OF such heavenly body say in 1884, as
you would go to a library and find from book
Mexico on that date. We viii now be able to
house TINS precious library of plates adequately
The remainder of the fund will be expended from
plans indicate the healthy and unsuitable appetite
OF an o nsq5u [ which IS always attemptlng to
accession suggests opportunities Of still further
extending its work into the unknown,
a
ton. which. it is agreed is pretty necessary, is still
far from a solution it would seem
BOSTON'S II is a problem in municipal fran
TRANSIT chises, with Governor Crane still
TROUBLES sentinel over whatever bill may be
passed A E Filene one OF the
largest merchants Of Boston and a leader in the
Public Franchise League, said yesterday at the
Victoria: The Boston Elevated Railroad Com
pany controls all the street roads in the city.
face and elevated. Last year the elevated company
tried to push through the legislature subway bill
giving it forty year franchise Of the subway and
practical control OF street travel in Boston They
offered to build the subway and give it the city
at the end of the forty years, which would have
been saving to them. Governor Crane vetoed the
bill. This year the Board of Trade brought in
bill, before the legislative committee providing
for tunnel within one thousand feet or Washing
ton-st. parallel with the present subway. 1t pro-
NldcS LOT twenty years lease ana - per cent
compensation Of the cost construction. 1t is TO
tons favored this bill AS in the past the elevated
company is trying 10 a perpetual franchise,
or at least more than the twenty year term, which
seems talr 70 business men. Another Dill therefore,
has been put in. called the Eleva ed Dill which
proposes to build deep tunnel under the tunnel
proposed by the rrst bill the COmpanys expense,
parently provides for the Westinghouse. subway,
but close inspection has found that IT does not
the city demand, and might be indefinitely de-
layed. This bill is opposed by the Public FRANCHISE
legislature II would be beaten as they are pledged
10 attach the referendum. Now. there are signs OF
a movement To delay the matter, in the apparent
TO pass that sort of legislation. II is purposed to
the whole subject OF urban and suburban
TRANSFORMATION referred TO a committee But this
tOn-st. subway is a necessity, whatever else Is
done. The elevated can get through fair bill, but
TO give away the most valuable city assets, the
franchises for more than twenty years IS not con-
sidered fair 10 the next generation