New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-28

u ork done here by the government Wealth
or bureau. DR. Draper said Yesterday that
his leaving his post was in order 20 take
rest" at his estate at Hastings on the
Hudson.
II read in the newspapers that the
observatory was looked on as unneces-
sarv." he said, hut long before that |
Rad contemplated giving up my duties
here am not young man. and " -
no easy matter to come here every day.
BESIDES. II is very hot IN here on the
roof Of the Arsenal during the summer
Il only hope though. they will appoint
Some one 10 take my place, for ! think
II not only advisable To have an observa-
tory in Manhattan. but one in The Bronx.
one in Brooklyn and one on staten Island
as we'll
Dr Draper told Yesterday how he came
to take I'D his work as director He SAID
that Andrew II. Green. then controller or
the parks. while in conversation with Dr.
John william Draper, father OF the direc-
ter had suggested the establishment OF
such an observatory and asked the latter
10 name some one.
"Perhaps Dan would take charge of IT,
said Or. Draper, according 10 the director.
Il hesitated." said the director, because
I thought | would be getting into politics
But Mr. Green assured me that politics
and the meteorological observatory would
have nothing in common 90 long as ne had
ANYTHING 10 do with II. Then ! became
tho director That was on December y.
1858"
All the instruments in the observatory
bx Some gov
ernment observatories in England. Ger
many and Russia are equipped with pr'
Draper's inventions. He has in his office
bound records since the establishment or
the observatory, which was two years, he
said. before the federal Weather Bureau
was established.
81 have suggested 10 Commissioner
slower" said DR.. Draper. that these rec
ords be taken to the Public Library once
,hev are gone no duplicates can ever be
had They should be kept in safe place
don't know what he will do about It,
hut | hone ne will see they are taken TO
the library"
The records Of the observatory have often
heen of great value to the city in the de-
cision of lawsuits in which the state Oh
the weather was the vital point 1T Issue
II appeared in the courts of three Dor
oughs In one day" said DR.. Draper. Inc
records were instrumental In maintaining
tho cases for the city In recent years
,bere was a heavy rain. which flooded
things pretty badly, especially III Inc
Rronx. There were four hundred damage
suits against the city resulting from u. vi
,bat nIIrnber ten were brought TO trial, the
Gnctsions TO be applicable to the rest
"Wel. / went through the RECORDS mere
and found that there had been much worse
storms in New York. The RECORDS were
~ means Of having the ten suits dis
missed. which. Of course, affected the go
others. ,,, ,, ,ho fadera1
authorities sought TO get him TO TAKE
niaca i'm the government weather bureau
P'"f asked Secretary OF War stanton for
b,s advice in the matter" Dr. Draper went
~ "Ie said TO me: Stay where you are.
9pm ar II YOU were In the employ of the
government and happened to tramp on
ssonoe ones toes. you'd be sent 10 Alaska
or some other place. and you'd have 10 go
I didn't want any better advice than that.
49,, alqo asked General Sherman what
~ do lie was q good friend too lie
rave me practically the same advice, only
lie added You're free now; better stay
Wiz IT, records of the observatory are sent
| 20 The libraries and other city institu-
lions. including the Health Department
They are often sent to otner parts OF inc
nnmytrv pr Draper has had two assist
80 one OF whom died recently. He VIII
nrohably recommend that the man now
ihere he appointed director.
Il would be willing 10 come N TWO or
,hrae times n week until he became ac-
,,s,orned 10 his new duties" said DIR.
Draper. but am at sea as Ia what they
IyilI do with the place
Dr Draper has an observatory on top
of his house in Hastings
I'm stl keep M my WORK there he
cause II is a pleasure. he ADDED. When
manned the house | provided for an OBJ
| aarrvaforv on top and workshop UNDER
( neath. I have the beautiful Palisades fac
nc me and the Hudson flowing by ] am
entitled 10 rest now. and am glad 10