no MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORIES IN AMERICA AND EUROPE. 



stars, etc., wiis not tlioroughly tested. Such tests as could be made are, 

 however, spoken of as satisfactorj'. 



Further tests of the clearness, the transpareucj, of the air proved to 

 Dr. Langley's that the atmosphere above 12,000 feet still contained a 

 considerable amount of dust. This dust-shell exists all over the world, 

 ill Europe, Asia, and America, and it extends considerably above 12,000 

 feet, though by far the greater portion of it is within 2000 or 3000 feet 

 of the earth. 



The smoke from forest-rires in the neighborhood also did its part. 

 In spite of these drawbacks the sky at the summit and at the mountain- 

 camp always showed itself very much more transparent than at the 

 various stations in the Rocky Mountains or in Europe which Dr. 

 Langley had previously occupied. Even the station at Lone Pine 

 had a sky much purer than that seen at the Allegheny Observatory, 

 except on rare occasions. 



During the dry season in California the weather is likely to be fair 

 for months at a time (May to October). 



After an experience of some two months on the mountain, Dr. 

 Langley sums up as follows : 



I hope I have made plain my own behef that Mount Whitney is an excellent 

 station for the purpose for which it was chosen. The great drawback in our case 

 was the inability to remain permanently at the very summit, for to do this re- 

 quires a permanent shelter. But a railroad will shortly run through Inyo 

 VaUey,* and from this, by the aid of an easily constructed mule-path, the ascent 

 of the very highest peak can be made in a daj^ while the telegraph wiU put it in 

 direct communication with Washington. I do not think the Italian Government 

 in its observatory on Etna, the French in that of the Puy de Dome, or any other 

 nation, at any other occupied station, has a finer site for such a purpose than 

 the United States possess in Whitney and its neighboring peaks, and it is most 

 earnestly to be hoped that something more than a mere ordinary meteorological 

 station will be finally erected here, and that the almost unequalled advantages 

 of this site will be developed by the Government. 



Stations in Colorado Occupied by the Harvard College 



Observatory. 



In 1887 the Harvard College Observatory became possessed of the 

 Boyden Fund, left by Mr. Boyden to aid in the establishment of an 

 observatory '■ at such an elevation as to be free, as far as practicable, 

 from impediments . . . due to atmospheric influences." In 1887 

 the Harvard College Observatory sent an expedition to occupy various 

 stations in Colorado. A 12 -inch equatorial was set up at three stations 

 —namely, Colorado Springs (6035 feet). Seven Lakes (10,964 feet), 

 *It is now in operation. — E. S. H. 



