PROCEEDINGS FOR 1916 XVII 
VI.—THE WAR 
The war in Europe continues to affect the usual routine business 
of the Society, as has already been remarked. We have, however, 
continued our distribution of the publications to all except the enemy 
countries. Nota few of our members are serving at the front, and we 
would suggest that this year a cordial message should be sent to these 
Fellows, which will remind them that their absence from our meetings 
is regretted, and that their safety and success are of close interest to us. 
VII.—THE 72-INCH REFLECTING TELESCOPE 
Progress on. the 72-inch reflecting telescope has been very satis- 
factory during the past year and it is now approaching the final 
stages of erection and adjusting. 
The mounting has been completed and temporarily erected at 
the factory of the Warner & Swasey Co. and all the operating mechan- 
ism tested. The whole massive machine, the moving parts of which 
weigh upwards of 40 tons, works with the greatest smoothness and 
ease, and can be set, driven and guided by means of the seven electric 
motors and the conveniently situated stationary and portable switch 
boards with the utmost facility; indeed this enormous mechanism can 
be operated and handled with greater ease than many small telescopes. 
The mounting will be taken down and shipped to its observatory as 
soon as the erection of the dome is sufficiently advanced. 
The 73-inch mirror, the principal optical part of the telescope is 
in the spherical form and is waiting now the completion of the large 
testing plane required for the parabolizing of the surface and its 
final completion. The smaller optical parts are all completed and 
attached to the mounting. It is hoped that the mirror will be ready 
as soon as the mounting is erected and ready to receive it, which will 
be towards the end of the summer. 
The massive pier which supports the telescope was completed last 
fall and the surrounding circular steel building 66 feet in diameter 
during the winter. The dome also constructed by the Warner & 
Swasey Co., which rests and revolves on this building, arrived in 
Victoria about the end of March, and is now being erected. This 
dome will be the most complete and convenient as well as the most 
carefully designed to work in proper conjunction with the telescope 
of any in the world. 
One of the observer’s residences has been erected but none of the 
other buildings required have yet been begun. It is hoped, however, 
that everything will be ready to begin regular observing with this 
magnificent equipment next spring after the considerable preliminary 
experimental and adjusting work has been completed. 
