Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-05-13
Mount Wilson Observatory Is Notable Contribu-
 tion to Science
HUNDRED-INCH LENS
 AGAIN BEING TRIED
Great Reflector Cast in France Will Soon
 Be Tested

1 LOS ANGELES, Cal, May 12.-Re- gently there appeared in British per iodical an article written by an Eng lishman seriously discussing the theoory that Andrew Carnegie and Doctor George F. Hale had built the observa- tory on Mount Wilson in an endeavor to get a corner on solar energy. The article has caused amusement in scien- tific circles, where the Mount Wilson observatory is looked upon as the greatest contribution that has yet been made to the science of astronomy.
 In spite of the fact that the big ''snow telescope is visible from Los Angeles, there is probably little concep- ton here of the importance the obser- vatory promises to play in the develop ment of astronomical science The com Ling of the famous astronomers of the world this summer for a convention here will do more to call attention to the progress of Los Angeles as a scien- tific center than anything that has yet occurred.
 Within month or six weeks there will be an item of news at the obser. vatory which vii interest the entire world. It will be known at that time whether the l00-inch lens recently east | in France is to be x success or not.s If so, new secrets of the heavens will be revealed as soon as it can bee set up on Mount Wilson.
 The attempt to cast the big reflector l was a failure. It takes several months for the big casting to cool and the second one is in that process now. The first reports are that it will probably come out all right
 MT. Carnegie $ recent visit to Mount | Wilson means that the dome for this new instrument will be provided with out question. The success of the 60 | inch reflector now in use assures the support of the Carnegie institute and | its founder The new building will be expensive, and will complete the con struction so far as Doctor Hale $ plans go. The original plans for the obser- vatory are already fulfilled in the equip ment in daily use.
 Difficulties to Be Overcome
 Some idea of the difficulties to be overcome in mounting the big lens that is coming will be gained from the fact that it weighs five tons. This piece of glass must be hung so that it will move with perfect ease in order to be | kept in fixed position by the clock work attachment which overcomes the motion of the earth. Doctor Hale $ invention is steel bearing floating in mercury, principle in use on the 6O- inch lens which weighs one ton.
 Astronomers originally doubted the efficiency, of the larger lenses. It has been demonstrated that the spectra of | the stars are increased in a ratio cor responding to the size of the lens, and with the l0O-inch disk there are remark able possibilities of developing new facts in regard to the universe.
 This lens, weighing five tons, will have to be transported to the top ot d mountain a mile high, where tons of the original material for construction had to be packed over narrow trail on the backs of burros. The wagon trail built for the purpose of getting the 60-inch lens to the top will again prove indispensable.
 An interesting operation is going on at present in the construction of yer tical solar telescope. It was found that for longer observation of certain phe- nomena of the sun the snow telescope did not offer the best conditions, al though it fulfilled the purpose for which it was built.
 In order to test his idea of vertical tower Doctor Hale had a water tower erected and made steady by guy ropes. With this he obtained such good results that he decided upon 8 vertical tower This is to be l65 feet in height in order to give a focal length of l50 feet from the reflector to the point where the i'm age is recorded. With the equipment he will be able to get an image of the sun 16 inches in diameter.
 In order to use tower l65 feet in height for photographic purposes and long exposures, where the object is simply q ray of light, it was necessary to resort to novel means for avoiding vibration. It took months of wrest- ling with the problem to work out the comparatively simple idea of erecting a double tower no parts of which should touch each other, The outer tower, which takes all the vibration of the wnd is built of hollow shafts. The base rests upon concrete blocks float ing loosely in the sand. The inner tower is built within the hollow shafts, but touches them at no point, and the foundations of this are carried down to solid rock. The inner tower supports the instruments which will probably be in the most absolute state of repOse that has been established against the influence of the clements.
 Enlarged Spectroscope
 With this instrument the spectroscOpe of the sun s rays will be increased from length of IS feet to 19 feet, giving a hrnader onnortnnitY for analysis. Ths