June 28, 1906] 



NA TURK 



power, has not caused such serious tremors as are 

 produced by the small portion of the engineering 

 plant now available for work at the new station, 

 which is much nearer and larger. It appears, there- 

 for<\ that if the new station is completed and 

 (■L|uip[)ed to supply electric power over London, though 

 il was authorised only for the requirements of tram- 

 w-a\s, the work of the observatory will be impaired 

 to no slight extent. When the scheme was first put 

 forward, it was not supposed that the works or the 

 engines would assume the gigantic and overpowering 

 proportions now contemplated, and the Astronomer 

 Roy.-il, in referring to this point in his report, 

 reni.'irks : — • 



The question arises why the immedialp noighboiirhood 

 of the observatory should be selected for the planting of 

 generating stations on an unprecedented scale to supply 

 elerlric power to distant districts. The very powerful 

 engines required for such a largi- output arc liable lo cause 



Fig. I —View of chimneys of the electric.il works o( the London 

 County Council, looking north over the transit room of the Royal 

 Observatory, Greenwich. The roof of the transit room is shown at 

 the bottom of the picture. 



vibrations the extent of which could hardly be anticipated 

 from previous experience of ordinary engineering plant or 

 of railway trains, which have hitherto not affected the 

 work of the observatory. 



The question as to the action the Government 

 proposes to take to prevent the Royal Observatory 

 from being injuriously affected bv electric stations or 

 other works, either at present or in the future, was 

 asked in the House of Lords by Lord Ellenborough, 

 who remarked that the difficulty which has arisen 

 might have been obviated to some extent bv the in- 

 stallation of turbines or triple-expansion horizontal 

 engines instead of vertical engines. The Earl of 

 Crawford pointed out that the interference with 

 observations would arise from the heated air of the 

 chimneys and the tremors due to machinery in motion. 

 He said in the course of his remarks : — 



NO. I913. VOL. 74] 



The essentials for observation of an astronomical kind 

 are stability and quietude. Nothing is so dangerous in 

 astronomical observation as the unknown errors which 

 have to be guarded against at the present time. If an 

 error is known no great hartn is done. In connection with 

 the meridian, careful observations of the moon require to 

 be made. For very many years the moon has been given 

 over by the . scientific world to Greenwich Observatory. 

 The Royal Observatory has specialised on the moon mainly 

 owing to the grand labours of Sir George Airy, the late 

 Astronotiier Royal, so that the position of the moon at 

 a given tiine hence may be fairly accurately predicted. 

 The observations at Greenwich, and the manner in which 

 they have been carried out by the late Astronomer Royal, 

 have led the whole scientific world to say, " Gentlemen, 

 you know your moon so well, pray continue to be re- 

 sponsible for her." If now Greenwich is reduced to the 

 position of saying that its lunar observations have not the 

 weight and value which so far have attached to them, it 

 will be a terrible blow to the reputation of the Royal 

 Observatory and also to our existence as a scientific 

 country. Another difficulty is that disputes as to boundaries 

 between countries are mainly settled by astronomical 

 observation as to the position of the moon, and as the 

 moon is being constantly watched at Greenwich Observ- 

 atory, applications are frequently received from foreign 

 countries as to the error of the moon at such an hour on 

 such a day. This also shows how extremely important 

 it is that the observations at Greenwich should be trust- 

 worthy. 



The suggestion that the observatory should be 

 moved from Greenwich was considered by Lord 

 Kelvin to be a most undesirable solution of the diffi- 

 culty. He added : — 



Even at present we may look forward to possible changes 

 in the arrangement of the works by which the electricity 

 will not seriously disturb or practically cripple the 

 astronomical observations at Greenwich. The disturbance 

 caused at the observatory by the vibration from the electric 

 works may be to some extent avoided by the substitution 

 of steam turbines for reciprocating engines and the use 

 of different electric dynamos. It is no exaggeration to say 

 that the whole world outside, as well as the British Empire, 

 would deplore anything that would injure the great and 

 good work done in the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, 

 and both Houses of Parliament should unite in preserv- 

 ing it. 



As further development of the machinery equipment 

 must increase the effects shown by the tests alreadv 

 made. Earl Cawdor considered that powers should be 

 obtained, or set in action, to prevent the Countv 

 Council from carrying out works that injure the 

 observatory, and that the half a million pounds ex- 

 pended by the Council is a small sum compared with 

 the matter at stake. 



Replying on behalf of the Government, Lord Tweed- 

 mouth, First Lord of the .Admiralty, made the follow- 

 ing statement of the case; and his remarks, with 

 those contained in the recent report of the Astronomer 

 Royal to the Board of Visitors, are the only official 

 comments available upon the subject : — 



Since the subject was raised it has been closely con- 

 sidered at the Adiniralty. As to the origin of this gener- 

 ating station, in igoi the London County Council re- 

 solved on it, and in 1902 a Bill was passed through Parlia- 

 ment. In this Bill was inserted a clause, known as the 

 Observatory clause, which gave to the Board of Trade the 

 power, if any use of electrical power was likely to affect 

 injuriously the instruments used in the observatory, to 

 require reasonable and proper precautions to be taken. 

 This proposal was made public and approved by Parlia- 

 ment. It is a pity that the County Council did not more 

 closely apprehend the possibility of danger in choosing this 

 particular site, but some responsibility must also be 

 attached to the various departments and to Parliament. 

 At present, at anv rate, no absolute damage has been 

 done, but there is an apprehension of it when the station 



