Arizona republican., 1919-05-27
MAN n SELECT S|TEFOR
 bSERvATO ORY
Edgar H. Fletcher of Local Weather Office Has Been Named to Start On Tour of This District Next Month

For the purpose of selecting a noun tain peak in southwestern Arizona or in southeastern California, suitable for the location of an observatory for bolo- metric measurement of solar radiation, to be erected by the Smithsonian insti- tuition, Edgar H. Fletcher, U. s. weather bureau observer at Phoenix, will leave here shortly after June 1 to tour the sle district.
 Comeback mountain and SauaW peak, a few miles north of this city, will be among the mountains considered, which must be at least 1,500 feet above the surrounding plain, but Observer Fletcher stated yesterday that in all liklihood, neither of these locations will be feasible, due to the fact that for a period of about two months in the sum- mer there are too many cloudy days. Mr Fletcher with his assistants. will follow by motor car the route of the Southern Pacific railway from Mari copa to Yuma to Colton, California, and from Barstow, California, to Parker. The party will be provided with camp ing facilities in order that they may stop at any place for observations of weather conditions and other details.
 
 Other possible locations for the ob- servatory are on a peak near Herges, California, 16 miles northwest of Yuma: another peak near Parker and another in the vicinity of Maricopa One peak in particular, situated on the railroad near Ajo, is mentioned by Mr Fletcher as one of the locations which at this time appears good.
 It is required by the Smithsonian in stitution that the location be near a railroad and town, in order that the i observer, who will have to live on the peak the year around, will have a near by base of supplies.
 1 In making his observations, Mr Fletcher will take into consideration these things, as well as the blueness of the sky compared with that of Phoe- nix and Wagon Wheel Gap, Colorado where he spent some time in high alti- tude work. He will also take into con- sideration the element of haze, and dust of the desert, which must not rise above the top of the peak. To make all these 1 observations, Observer Fletcher will take with him the requisite instruments and will spend some time at each pos slble location. making as his journey progresses, telegraphic and written re ports to the main office of the weather i bureau in Washington, D. C. At the end ot his tour, which must be completed ] by the last of June, he will recommend to the bureau the peak, or peaks, best suited for the work, and will send in a set Of photographs of them.
 Keep Records For Year
 After peak has been chosen. MT Fletcher will find cooperative ob- server, who will live in the town near est the peak for year to keep records of the weather conditions there and at the top of the peak. The cooperative observer will make daily reports on the conditions in the town and weekly re- ports on the conditions in the town and weekly reports of the conditions at the summit of the peak, paying special at- tention to clouds
 i When the year of observations has l closed the Smithsonian Institution will know whether the location under sur yeillance is adapted for the observatory and if it is, construction work will be commenced
 l The U s. weather bureau is co-oper- atlng with the Smithsonian Institution m the finding of a suitable location for the observatory and has selected MT Fletcher for the work on account of his wide experience in the service of the bureau and especially for tie reason that he has spent a gr,a deal of time Tn high altitude work in the Rocky Mountains, at Wagon Wheel Gan. Col orado.