96 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 



cussed. From these discussions it was learned that the present 

 owners would readily transfer a part of the mountain top, including 

 the summit proper, for the use of an observatory ; that they would 

 assist in maintaining and fostering the growth of trees and other 

 vegetation ; that they would in every way safeguard the purity and 

 permanency of the water supply ; and, finally, that they would use 

 their influence to make the summit more accessible by having an 

 electric railway constructed to the mountain top. 



The Pasadena trail, owned by the Toll Company, extends from 

 the summit of Mount Wilson to the foot of Eaton can} T on, a dis- 

 tance of 9 miles. It is constructed on a grade which is said to be 

 10 per cent, in most places, but nowhere exceeding this. The trail 

 was located with the idea that it should eventually be converted into 

 a wagon road. This could be done without much difficulty in most 

 places. Portions of it, however, would require rock excavations 

 and the construction of retaining walls, and some bridges might be 

 necessary to avoid some of the present abrupt turns. 



The fact that all the land excepting the portions enumerated 

 above is held and controlled by the United States as part of a Forest 

 Reserve is a very important consideration. It insures a constant 

 patrol of the adjacent regions by the forest rangers, a safeguarding 

 against forest fires, which are at times very destructive in semi-arid 

 regions ; a regeneration of the forest trees ; a saving of the deep 

 accumulation of humus, and thereby a conservation of the water — 

 all matters of vital importance to the well being of an observatory 

 whose work is to be largely solar research. 



The San Bernardino mountains have been mentioned as lying to 

 the east of the San Gabriel range, and as culminating in the San Ber- 

 nardino and SanGorgonio peaks, about 40 miles southeast of Cajou 

 canyon, which separates the two ranges. I did not visit these moun- 

 tains, but from the time of my arrival in southern California until I 

 came away I made many inquiries and heard much concerning them, 

 particularly from those who have lived in them and made a study of 

 their characteristics. From all the information that I could gather 

 from the most reliable sources it did not seem probable that I should 

 find in these mountains any location which would have conditions 

 favorable to a high grade of astronomical work — conditions com- 

 parable to those that exist in the San Gabriel mountains. In refer- 

 ence to these matters I have particularly consulted with Mr. Lukens. 

 In his opinion there is only one region in the San Bernardino moun- 

 tains that would be at all worthy of consideration, and that would 



