The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-13
NEW YORK CITY OBSERVATORY


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and muasam may b. aaid b. have been
started from the modeI FOom N che New
York Yacht club. This coliectlon ~ modeia
h the finest IN thia country and many ~
tho promoters ~ thu new museum ars mem
hers ~ that club.
The observatory would be within the
reach ~ students and others employed In
various helda u research. II n proposed
that the Inst rumenta ahaIi BE- ~ the most
modern and improved type and that the
mussum shall contain, besides ancient and
modern models and relics, examples Of
appliances ~ all kinds and an astronomical
and nautical library In which II h thought
might be assembled all the collections
touching these subjects In the various
libraries Of the city.
A committee on preliminary organization
was recently appointed by those who are
Interested In the scheme. and this COM
mittee In as follows: Frederick q, Bourne,
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Edward 3. Isham,
George A. Cormack. J. d. Jerrold Kelley
and Charles Lane Poor. These gentlemen
rave issued a statement Of the plans Of
those who are Interested.
In this statement the committee says that
New York, the second largest city in the
world, the greatest maritime port In this
country, has no institution devoted to the
mtbttotc VI IN nd NibatOtt W ~ hANVoeibo
ton OF new methods and new discoveries
in shipbuilding and In ship sailing; no
museum where can be studied the develop
ment Of the modern vessel. London has
Greenwich Observatory and q nautical
museum Paris has the Paris Observatory
and allied institutions. There are obser-
vatories IN Berlin. Potsdam and Nice. In
Boston here IL Harvard Observatory, In
Washington the Naval Observatory, in
Chicago the Yerkes, in San Francisco the
Lick, and New York is the only great city
without an institution of this kind.
The committee thinks that the ~institu-
ton should consist Of two distinct depart
nomical observatory. In the museum
would be collected and exhibited models Of
all types of vessels, safety and signal
devices, nautical instruments and methods
Of determining position. charts. marine
engines and motors and historical instru-
ments and relics. This museum should be
open to the public and arranged 30 that
properly qualified persons could avail them
selves Of the facilities offered for ~investi-
CATION and research.
Of scientific. activity. 1t is proposed to
establish q board Of scientific advisers,
consisting Of the leading Astronomers,
nautical experts and scientists in the coun-
try, who shall advise with the president,
the director and the trustees on all matters
Of general scientific policy,
Citizens Of New York who are interested
In the general work Of the institution may
be allied with it and contribute to It's sup
port. The plan in this way is similar to
the custom prevailing In other museums and
Institutions In the city. These classes Of
membership are to be established: Annual
members, life members, fellows, patrons
and benefaotors. Special arrangements are
to be made so that officers Of the navy, the
Marine Corps, the Revenue Service and the
mercantile marine may have the privileges
Of the museum during their active service.
In referring to the building and equip
ment the committee says: "A principal build
ing will be the Nautical Museum, wherein
will be placed the collections Of models,
nautical instruments and marine engines
and motors. In this building will be the
executive offices, the library, the labora-
tories, workshops and computing rooms.
the various buildings OF the observatory,
each instrument 30 far as practicable having
it's WI separate house:
"The equipment Of the observatory viii
be planned~xvith special reference to the
work proposed to be done therein. New
York Observatory must be prepared to take
UP problems not usually studied in other
Institutions, and especially such astronomi-
GAL problems as are related 70 navigation,
tides and tidal currents, the formation Of
special tables and aids to navigation, the
rating of chronometers, the adjustment Of
oompasses and the scientific examination
and study Of nautical instruments and
safety devices. Again, the observatory
must have instruments for student use and
for popular instruction"