ADVISORY committee; ON ASTRONOMY IO3 



In the organization of the proposed observatory the matter of 

 permanent staff would seem to be a secondary consideration. What- 

 ever permanent staff might be maintained should be regarded as 

 auxiliary to the main purpose — special researches. This staff 

 should be held as disposable, on occasion, for the assistance of 

 special investigators to whatever extent the necessity of the case 

 might require. The installation of piers, observing rooms, and even 

 of instruments, could be provided in advance for the use of special 

 investigators by the small permanent staff. 



A certain amount of regular observations could be assigned to the 

 permanent staff, such as observations of double stars, variable stars, 

 comets and small planets, when far south of the equator, daily 

 photographs of the Sun, and other observations. For a long time 

 to come it would probably be found desirable to maintain regular 

 meridian observations of southern stars. One astronomer in charge, 

 one or two astronomers of the grade of assistant, and two or three 

 computers would probably suffice for the permanent staff at first. 



The permanent equipment at first might consist of a visual tele- 

 scope of from 12 to 18 inches aperture, a photographic doublet of 

 from 10 to 12 inches aperture, a meridian circle, a zenith tele- 

 scope, small telescopes, clocks, chronographs, etc. 



The equipment for special researches ought to be provided in con- 

 nection with the special occasion for it, and might, in some instances, 

 remain as part of the permanent equipment at the expiration of the 

 initial investigations which may have called it into existence. 



The buildings should be of the most simple and inexpensive con- 

 struction. The observing rooms should be built as needed, and 

 should be of the lightest construction consistent with the protection 

 and safety of the instruments they shelter. 



There should be a simple oflQce building, so planned as to admit 

 of future extension to good advantage. It would probably be a 

 good plan to provide inexpensive living quarters or barracks for 

 observers. 



It is to be hoped that the success of the observatory in inviting 

 support would be such that a succession of special investigators, 

 with their respective assistants, could be kept on the ground all the 

 time ; so that eventually the distinction between permanent and 

 temporary staff would virtually disappear. 



The end to be kept steadily in view should be not to devise em- 

 ployment for a large permanent staff, but to find men of special 

 qualifications to be sent to the observatory from time to time to 



