Barker.] Nov. 15, 



possible to measure the heal of the corona; and of myself, who was to ob- 

 serve with the analyzing spectroscope with the especial object of ascer- 

 taining the presence either of bright or of dark (Praunhofer) lines in tbe 

 spectrum of the corona. 



Rawlins, Wyoming Territory, had been selected by the Director as the 

 Observing station, because while it was near the central line of totality, it 

 was also easily accessible, being on the Union Pacific Railroad, was a place 

 of some size, having eight or nine hundred inhabitants, and was the loca- 

 tion of the railroad repair shops of the Laramie division, so that in case of 

 need, assistance in constructing or repairing our instruments could lie had. 

 Moreover, it bad a bountiful supply of excellent water brought in pipes 

 from the neighboring Cherokee mountain, which being of granite, yielded 

 a pure product of inestimable value for purposes of photography. Pre- 

 vious experience in that region of country too, had assured Dr. Draper 

 that the air there was dry, and hence that the chances of clear weather on 

 the day of the eclipse were very considerable. 



The expedition left New York on the evening of the loth of July ; ami, 

 resting by the way at Chicago for a day, reached Rawlins at mid-night of 

 the 18th. The apparatus and material, which had been sent on by ex- 

 press in advance, had already arrived and in apparently good order, 

 though in all it weighed nearly a ton, After a day's reconnoitering, plans 

 were perfected and arrangements made for the construction of a temporary 

 observatory in which to shelter the larger instruments. An excellent site 

 was select cil by Dr. Draper, protected in great measure from the strong 

 winds from the west which at times sweep over those mountain plains. 

 In this building the telespectroscopes were erected, a portion of it being 

 converted into a photographic dark room, and supplied with running 

 water from tbe hydrant. The location of this observatory was determined 

 to be latitude 41° 48' 50" N., longitude 2 h. m. 44 s. W. from Washing- 

 ton. Its altitude above the sea level was 6,732 feet. The tasimeter tele- 

 scope of Dr. Edison was erected in an adjoining building, facing the west 

 and about ten or fifteen feet distant. 



The ten days of time which had been allowed for completing the pre- 

 parations was found to be none too much. During a large portion of every 

 day and most of tbe night, some or all of the party were engaged in ad- 

 justment of the instruments, in practice with them, in determining posi- 

 tions in photographic work, or in the numberless details necessary to 

 success. On the night of the 24th, we were joined by the English astro- 

 nomer, .1. Norman Lockyer, F. R. S., and also by Professor James C. 

 Watson, of the University of Michigan. Mr. Lockycr's work being mostly 

 photographic, he was efficiently aided by Mr. J. B. Silvis, the owner of a 

 photographic car traveling over the Union Pacific Railroad, which chanced 

 at that time to be in Rawlins. Mr. Silvis not only most generously placed 

 himself and his car at Mr. Lockyer's disposal for any experimental pur- 

 poses entirely free of expense, but on the day of the eclipse, he allowed 

 him to take the carlo Separation, about thirteen miles distant, assisted 

 him in observing, and returned with him to Rawlins the same evening. 



