4S MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORIES IN AMERICA AND EUROPE. 



parency was almost always much more marked than at the sea-level, but the 

 tremulousness was as great as, or even greater than, at New York. It is certain 

 that during more than half the year no work of a delicate character could be 

 done. . . . Apparently, therefore, judging from present information, it 

 would not be judicious to move a large telescope and physical observatory into 

 these mountains with the hope of doing continuous work under the most favor- 

 able circumstances. 



Professor A. Hall, Sr., observed the eclipse of July, 1878, at La 

 Junta, wliicli lies in the elevated plains of Colorado, about 4187 feet 

 above the sea. "I cannot but think," he says, "that these elevated 

 plains afford advantages for astronomical observations that have not 

 hitherto been made use of" — which was true then, and is largely true 

 to-day. 



In July, 1878, Mr. Alvan G. Clark used a high-power e3'epieee 

 on a 3-inch telescope at Creston (Wyoming), altitude 7000 feet, and 

 examined some close double-stars for about two hours. His verdict 

 was that Epsllon Lyrce was " as well shown as he had ever seen it at 

 Cambridge with a 12-inch glass ! ! ! " The two hours in question was 

 the only good observing weather during the stay of the eclipse party 

 of which he was a member. 



Pboject for the Establishment of a Branch Naval Observatory 

 ON THE Western Plains (1878). 



In the early part of 1878 the Hon. A. S. Paddock, TJ. S. Senator 

 from Nebraska, addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Navy on the 

 matter of the establishment of a branch of the U. S. Naval Observatory 

 at some elevated station in the interior of the continent. The letter 

 was referred to the Superintendent of the U. S. Naval Observatory, 

 and his endorsement, together with those of Professors Hall, Hark- 

 ness, Eastman, and Holden, is j^rinted in MisctUaneous Docvment^ No. 

 25, U. S. Senate, 45th Congress, 2d Session. 



Admiral John Kodgers is in favor of the project, but points out 

 that a suitable site can only be found by trials, and recommends that 

 an appropriation of $12,000 be made for the jDurpose of making such 

 trials, and that, when the proper site is found, a branch observatory 

 be located there which shall be devoted chiefly to work of discovery. 

 Admiral Eodgers points out in clear and forcible language that the 

 largest part of the work of a Government observatory is of a routine 

 character, useful if not brilliant ; and that such work will always be 

 better done near to the centres of intelligence, " where libraries are 

 found, where opinions are interchanged, and aims are canvassed, where 

 artistic skill is to be met, and supply of material is to be found. The 

 observatory of discovery should be a branch of the observatory of use- 



