72 SIMON NEWCOMB 



August, 1832, the people of the place, then numbering 28 

 voters, decided to become incorporated, and selected five 

 trustees to carry on their government. 



In 1837 a city charter was obtained from the legislature 

 of Illinois. The growth of this infant city, then small even 

 for an infant, into the great commercial metropolis of the 

 west has been the just pride of its people and the wonder of 

 the world. I mention it now because of a remarkable coin- 

 cidence. With this civic growth has quietly gone on an- 

 other, little noted by the great world, and yet in its way 

 equally wonderful and equally gratifying to the pride of those 

 who measure greatness by intellectual progress. If it be 

 true that — 

 In Nature nothing is great but man; in man nothing is great 



but mind — 

 then may knowledge of the universe be regarded as the true 

 measure of progress. I therefore invite attention to the fact 

 that American astronomy began with Chicago and has slowly 

 but surely kept pace with it until to-day our country stands 

 second only to Germany in the number of researches being 

 prosecuted and second to none in the number of men who 

 have gained the highest recognition by their labors. 



In 1836 Prof. Albert Hopkins, of Williams college, and 

 Prof. Ehas Loomis, of Western Reserve college, Ohio, both 

 commenced little observatories. Professor Loomis went to 

 Europe for all his instruments, but Hopkins was able even 

 then to get some of his in this country. Shortly afterwards 

 a Uttle wooden structure was erected by Captain Gilliss on 

 Capitol Hill, at Washington, and supphed with a transit 

 instrument for observing moon culminations, in conjunction 

 with Captain Wilkes, who was then setting out on his explor- 

 ing expedition to the southern hemisphere. The date of 

 these observatories was practically the same as that on which 

 a charter for the city of Chicago was obtained from the legis- 

 lature. With their estabHshment the population of the city 

 had increased to 703. 



The next decade, 1840 to 1850, was that in which our 

 practical astronomy seriously commenced. The little observ- 

 atory of Captain Gilliss was replaced by the naval observatory, 



