Progress of Astronomy during the Year 1879. 481 
experimental surveys was made, with a view of obtaining the 
best location in an easily accessible place. Finally, Mount 
Hamilton, in Santa Clara county, about 50 miles south-east of 
San Francisco, was chosen, and negotiations were opened with 
the county authorities for the building of a road to the summit. 
More than 1,500 acres of land were secured for the observatory, 
only a small portion of which is essential to the immediate needs 
of the buildings, but the residue will be utilized for pasture, and 
for fuel and water-supply. The steep and broken character of 
the ground renders a large surface of land necessary for the 
adequate protection of the observatory from fire and intrusion. 
Mr. Lick died in 1877, after a lingering illness of several years. 
Shortly before his death he had invited Prof. Newcomb to carry 
out a series of test experiments on Mount Hamilton ; but his 
other engagements prevented Prof. Newcomb from undertaking 
this work, for which he, however, at last recommended Mr. 
Burnham. Contrary to general belief, the visit of this eminent 
observer was not for the purpose of choosing a site, which had 
been done long ago, but to enable him to express an opinion as 
to the size and character of the principal telescope, which was to 
be “the best in the world.” Mr. Burnham arrived on August 
17, 1879, and at once went to work. He brought with him his 
own 6-inch telescope, and a temporary observatory was erected, 
2() feet in diameter, and having a dome formed of bent gas-pipes 
covered with canvas, and rotating on iron balls. Mr. Burnham 
examined and measured a great number of double stars, dis- 
covered about 20 new ones, and made observations of various 
other test objects. Out of 32 nights, the 27 were extremely 
favourable for observations. Though practically out of the coast 
fog, an occasional gale may carry the fog as far as the crest of 
Mount Hamilton, but ordinarily the sky is cloudless all summer, 
while in the east the average of clear nights is less than three 
per week. 
The exact size of the Lick telescope has not yet been deter- 
mined, and will depend somewhat on the success of the 30-inch 
glass which was ordered in the autumn from Alvan Clark for the 
Pulkova Observatory. In order, however, properly to observe 
the transit of Venus in 1882, the trustees purpose to secure at 
once a 12-inch refractor. No definite plan for the buildings has 
Scien. Proc., R.D.S. Vou. u., Pr. vi. OK 
