MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORIES IN AMERICA AND EUROPE. 11 



from one locality to anotlier, thougli this does not seem to be the judg- 

 ment of Professor Davidson, whose experience is very wide in this 

 respect. 



In the Eocky Mountains of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, speak- 

 ing generally, and also at such stations as Mont Blanc, it would seem 

 that excellent observing weather would be rare (especially in respect of 

 steadiness). 



It must be borne in mind that the uses (to astronomy) of high-level 

 stations are, in general, not for consecutive and long-continued registra- 

 tion of phenomena, but rather for comparison between the results of 

 special observations made simultaneously, or nearly so, at high and low 

 levels. In most researches these corresponding series may be short, 

 and do not require the expensive installation of a permanent observa- 

 tory, but rather the equipment of a scientific camp, and this is especially 

 true if suitable stations are selected. 



It is also necessary to look at the question in a practical way. 



The available endowment of astronomical research is, in fact, limited. 

 Certain large subsidies are, and always will be, granted by governments 

 and they may, in the future, be greatly increased. The generosity of 

 individuals, like Lick, Boyden, Bischoffshcim, Draper, and others, 

 seems unbounded ; but there is a limit to this, as well. 



The practical question to be decided is, how shall these endowments 

 be best expended for the benefit of astronomy ? 



It is certain that, in future, no one will be justified in establishing an 

 astronomical observatory of research in a site which has not previously 

 been proved to be suitable.* 



High-level meteorological observatories will always be needed, in 

 spite of the fact that their records are necessarily much affected by 

 merely local conditions. The improvement of self -registering instru- 

 ments, running for long periods, will enable such establishments to dis- 

 pense with a large staff of observers, f 



The development of methods of observing by instruments in balloons 



* The great apparent waste of money in the establishment of new observatories 

 in the United States may be partly justified by the fact that most of them are 

 attached to colleges, and are directly useful in training students in exact methods. 

 Founders of such establishments will do well to recollect that comparatively 

 small and inexpensive outfits will accomplish all the ends of a college observatory. 

 Ten thousand dollars wisely expended is sufficient, and twenty thousand dollars 

 will provide an observatory in which original work can be well done. The im- 

 portant point is to provide an endowment fund, to be used solely for scientific 

 work, over and above the first cost of the establishment. 



f M. T. de Bort (American Meteorological Journal, vol. vii, p. 319,) expresses 

 the opinion that $1000 to $2000 will provide the outfit for a station of this sort, 

 and that its annual expense need not be over $200. The site chosen will, of 

 course, greatly modify these estimates. 



