The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-19
To Be Under Control Of a
Central Board of Advisers
Composed Of the Leading
Astronomers of the United
States. :. :. :. :.

/ Investigations in the departments Of
t heat and light; the Elizabeth Thompson
Science fund. with a principal of S26. 00o.
the income available for Investigations
/ in all departments Of science; ths Henry
I Draper fund Of the National Academy,
/ principal $4,000. available for investiga-
ton in astronomical subjects By citizens
OF the United States; the Advancement
/ Of Astronomical Science fund CT the
Harvard College Observatory. with a
principal Of $4,000, Of which $1,000 is
now available. the income to be used by
astronomers Of any country In pursuit
Of any important astronomical work.
These endowments, together with the
great SUNS at the disposal Of the trus-
/ tees Of the Carnegie Institution. and the
unexpended balances of the various re-
search funds OF the National Academy,
make it improbable that any really
worthy investigator needing not more
than few hundred dollars for its exc
cution need fail for want OF money.
What Could Be Done at Once.
But Investigations on a larger scale
and more numerous will be made pos
sible, Prof. Pickering believes. only by
the creation Of very large trust such
as he has in mind. managed by a cen
tzal board of directors Creation Of
such fund would start astronomers at
once On several researches that are i'm
perativeIy calling for attention. Among
the great enterprises which Prof. Pick
ering personally would like to see
started, directly the project is realized,
the following may serve as an example:
There might ne says, be a Northern
Photographic "Durchmusterung," or
complete chart Of the northern heavens,
which Prof Pickering regards as real
necessity Of astronomy today. Again,
as another undertaking that ought TO
| be considered. the observatory OF
Georgetown College, in this city, pur-
poses to establish q southern station
at Rhodesia, South Africa, IN charge of
Father Goetz, s. J. II the sum OF 50. 600
were Immediately available It would IN
sure the purchase OF a 12-inch teIe-
Scope, with the aid of which the eata-
logue and charts of variable stars, al
ready compiled for northern regions by
Father Hagen, could be extended TO the
South Pole.
Desires Harvard to Take the Lead.
IN brief. the whole plan is for an in
stitution that viii advance the interests
Of astronomy under the combined advice
Of the leading astronomers OF the world.
Prof. Pickering. however, IS convinced
that it would be fer the distinct ad-
vantage of the new institution TO have
its funds invested in the name Of the
president and fellows of Harvard Col
lese, as the university corporation IS
called, believing that the standing Of
the university insures practically abso-
lutte permaneney in financial manage
ment- Starr T. Murphy, the financial
expert who Investigated the Harvard
methods at the request of J. D. Rookie
felIer before the latter made his million
dollar gift TO the Harvard Medical
School, was able to report, for example,
that the university has never yet lost a
fund through bad investment Prof.
Pickering also cites the fact that the
funds invested by the treasurer OF Har-
ward University now amount 10 more
than 4,Co0. 000. and that the net rate OF
interest during the past year has
amounted 10 As per cent. So that Rar-
ward would be admirably competent. in
Prof chickering's opinion. to take charge
Of the financial end of such an as
Economical trust as he has proposed
But however financed, he hopes 10 see
II carried out regardless Of Common
wealth. country, or personal considera-
tons