Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-27
NaUal ObserUafory Plans Exp0uaon

to Congress, submitted in January, 1922 Pres
ident Monroe submitted an abstract of Lam
bert's work With it also touches again upon
the utility inexpediency of erecting
observatory" as Congress shall decide.
Again, Monroe comes back in the Fall Of
1923 with affirmation from other quarters,
notably abroad, of the accuracy of Lambert's
work and strong plea for observatory.
Exit Monroe; enter John c. Adams. Fiery.
peppery John O. took up the battle. He
brought logic and the dream of Washington
for a national university into the picture and
pointed to the fact that the spot the First
President had selected for a university site
was "still barren and bare" But nothing
doing. But John O., characteristic of him. as
his fight against the extension of slavery while
a member of the House will attest, never
yielded. He fought until 1912 for the institu-
ton, at which time it began to emerge from
another quarter
In 1880. through the influence of Lieut. L.
M GoldSborough, u. S. N, "a bureau was
established in this city for the care of the
instruments, charts and etc. OF the Navy"
Liesst GoldSborough had collected and brought
from New York and other places the "chro-
nometers, sextants, theodolites, and other in
struments and charts of the Navy, and had
located them III Washington in a building
opposite the residence of the United States
Attorney General, Hon. William Writ. A tram
sit-nstrument at the price of 40 guineas, was
afterward added
Out of this depot, where these naval instru-
ment were cared for, grew the Naval Observa-
tory, so long and vigorously fought for since
1910. Shortly thereafter Messers Jenkins and
Taylor were employed to make a nautical
almanac. Observatory affairs now moved
swiftly. Lieut.. Goldsborough was succeeded by
Lieut.. Wilkes of the famous South Sea explora-
ton voyage of the Navy. Wilkes moved his
depot from the banks of the Potomac to site
close to the Capitol and there erected at his
own expense, an observatory 16 feet square.
He mounted in 1t one Of the 5-foot transitS
made by Troughton in 1915 for the coast sur
vey. It was loaned to him by Mr. F. NJ Has
ser, interested in the observatory project to
the extent Of having selected this site for an
observatory as far back as 1916.
When Wilkes went exploring Lieut. J. M
GillisS, who few years before had been made
his assistant. was directed to determine diff
ferences of longitude between this observatory
and the stations which the expedition might
occupy abroad"
IN 184l, his work having outgrown his sur
roundings and defects being evident in his
transit instrument Lieut. Gilliss sought through
the Commissioners of the Navy an appropr1a-
ton from Congress for the permanent estab-
lishment of an observatory. This was in 1871.
In November. 1s4s Lieut.. Gilliss reported to
the Navy Department plan for an observa-
tory, modified as advised by distinguished
gentlemen in Europe and the United States"
and progress of its erection. It's site was on
the north bank Of the Potomac. m the south
western part of the city-the present site and
building of the Naval Hospital,
In 1893 1t was moved to its present location
on Massachusetts, avenue and empowered Ia IS
acres of woodland beauty. away from traffic
forever and the roar and noise attendant
upon 1t.