326 HISTORY OF PASADENA, 



ASTRONOMY AND THINGS IN PASADENA. 



Monday was a notable day. A body of eminent men were in Pasa- 

 dena. In the evening a banquet was given them at the Carlton hotel, and 

 132 plates were served. The proposed astronomical observatory on the top 

 of Mount Wilson, 5,800 feet above sea level, was the topic of all the after- 

 dinner speeches. Everything centered on Wilson's peak. The speakers 

 were : Rev. K. L. Conger, pastor of the Universalist church. Prof. W. H. 

 Pickering, astronomer of Harvard University. Alvan G. Clark, the world- 

 famed telescopic lens manufacturer of Cambridgeport, Mass. Dr. W. F. 

 Channing of Pasadena, formerly of Boston. Capt. Thomas F. Fraser, super- 

 intendent of construction of the great lyick observatory on Mount Hamilton, 

 Cal. Rev. S. C. Bartlett, D. D., president of Dartmouth college. Prof. 

 Brascher, astronomer and glass expert, of Pittsburg, Pa. 



W. U. Masters, president of the Board of Trade, presided, and con- 

 ducted the exercises in a prompt and sensible manner. 



The outcome of it all is, that if Pasadena will proceed at once to con- 

 struct a road to Wilson 's^eak. Prof. Pickering will locate a corps of observers 

 there with a 23-inch telescope, and conduct observations on behalf of Har- 

 vard University, to determine some scientific problems of this Pacific coast 

 region. 



On Tuesday the Board of Trade appointed a committee to see what can 

 be done toward securing the Wilson's peak road to be made at once. The 

 committee are : Col. O. S. Richer, H. W. Magee, Dr. W. F. Channing, T. P. 

 lyUkens, and C. S. Martin. Mr. Martin has a claim of 160 acres of land 

 where the observatory is to be located. 



It is stated at lyOS Angeles that the order was given Mr. Clark to go 

 ahead and make his proposed 44-inch lens, the largest ever yet attempted, 

 and Southern California will take it. It will require about two years of 

 lathe and hand work to finish this marvelous glass ; and Mr. Clark has gone 

 home to commence the work.-^ 



lyATER. — It is arranged for Judge Eaton and N. C. Carter to make the 

 trail passable and pack-horseable to the peak, at once, so the photo-telescope 

 can go up. 



The 23-inch photographing telescope was conveyed up the old Wilson 

 Trail in April, 1889, one portion of its iron base alone weighing 600 pounds. 

 [See chapter 20; article, "The Telescope Episode." Also, chapter 19; 

 article, "Harvard Telescope Point."] 



CENTENNIAL INAUGURATION DAY, 



Was observed in Pasadena on May 7th, 1888 ; and from the Daily Star's 

 report published May 8th, I condense the following particulars : 



The Tabernacle was elaborately decorated with flags, pictures, flowers, 

 etc. The members of the city council, city officers, veterans of the Grand 

 Army, and a detachment of the Sons of Veterans occupied the front seats on 

 the floor. " A Hundred Years" was sung by Miss Peck and the choir. 

 Rev. W. A. Wright offered prayer. Rev. A. W. Bunker read the passage 

 of Scripture upon which George Washington placed his hand in taking the 

 inaugural oath one hundred years ago — the 40th chapter of Genesis. The 



*Southern California failed to raise the money for this biggest lens in the world ; and it was finally 

 purchased in 1892 by Mr. Yerkes, for the Chicago observatory. 



