The Laws Observatory. 483 
Observatory was of course used chiefly for the purpose of 
instruction. 
THE LAWS OBSERVATORY. 
In January, 1880, the 4-inch Fitz telescope belonging to the 
Observatory and $500 were given in exchange for a 74-inch 
equatorial refracting telescope by Merz und Séhne of Munich, 
which was at that time the property of the Shelby High School 
at Shelbyville, Kentucky. The old Observatory building was 
removed to a better location on the northeast corner of the 
University campus and an octagonal brick tower with a hem- 
ispherical dome and a brick pier for the accommodation of 
the newly acquired telescope was built adjoining the east end 
of the transit room. The telescope was repaired and put in 
working order and was mounted on March 13th, 1880. All 
these improvements were made under the direction of Prof. 
Ficklin and are said to have cost more than $2,000. . This 
sum of money was generously given from his private funds 
for the improvement of the Observatory by Dr. S. S. Laws, 
then President of the University.* At a meeting of the 
Board of Curators of the University held on June 2d, 1880, it 
was directed that <‘In recognition of the liberality of Dr. 
Laws for the advancement of Astronomical Science, the 
Observatory and telescope shall be known and distinguished as 
the * Laws Observatory and Telescope.’ ”’ 
During July, 1882, Prof. Ficklin made an accurate deter- 
mination of the latitude of the Observatory by Talcott’s 
method, using for the purpose a zenith telescope belonging to 
the U. S.C. & G. Survey. 
In July, 1883, a new sidereal clock, chronograph and spec- 
troscope were purchased at the expense of the University from 
Fauth & Co. of Washington, D. C. The price paid for 
these instruments was $1,010.70. In 1881 a 20-inch celestial 
STOUR ee eee eae ee 
* The following statement is contained in each one of the annual cata- 
logues of the University from 1879-80 to 1887-8 inclusive: — 
“ The present greatly improved condition of the Observatory is due to the 
liberality of the President, Dr. S. S. Laws, who for the advancement of 
astronomical science has given to the University more than two thousand 
dollars in order to procure the telescope and put it in complete working 
order, and to move and enlarge the Observatory building.” 
