Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 274, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1914 — on the top of mr. wilson [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

on the top of mr. wilson

An expedition to Mt. wiison is do small undertaking. The mountain ip 5,887 feet In height according to the geodetic survey. The altitude is usually given tn round numbers as 6,000 feet, which is a pardonable exaggeration. The trip involves a climb of 4,000 feet —vertical —which Is accomplished in- a tramp of nine miles from the terminus of the Sierra Madre cars of the, Pacific Electric system. This Is called the Sierra Madre trail and Is usually taken by foot passengers or by those who choose to make burros dr mules do the fatigue work, writes W. H. Knight In the Los Angeles But there is besides a so-called automobile roadway, of greater length andeasier grade. It was built and Is kept In good repair by the Carnegie Institution fbr the transportation of building material and also to bring up supplies to the astronomers, for although the latter devote their time to the contemplation of the heavens and seem to be dwelling in far-off. celestial spheres, yet they are actually human-and have cravings that can-only be satisfied by consuming things of terrestrial growth. Observatory Will Bo Massive. Up this Carnegie road 200 tons of steel have been transported for the construction of the new mammoth observatory which is to house the great 100-Inch reflecting telescope, and* before the observatory is completed that gigantic building will consume an additional 600 tons of structural steel. This will include the grand domp-100 feet In diameter, whose topmost point will be 120 feet from the ground. It will be by far the most massive build*

Ing ever planned for, and devoted to, astronomical use. The numbers of the Astronomy club climbed , the trail under the direction o's Secretary Thomas P. Smith. Mr. Baumgardt, son of B. R. Baumgardt, lectured, and his friend brought up two fine portable telescopes which proved of great service on the mountain. But there was another party whose adventures are worth noting. It was conducted by Valletta L. Benedict. The members of this little group ventured over another trail which proved to be full of surprises. They went up the Mt Lowe electric road to Ab pine Tavern, 5,000 feet elevation, and from there started for Mt. Wilson by one of the standard forest trails along tbe dividing ridge. Long and Tiring Mike. An optimistic signboard near the tavern reads “six miles, ’ but who could suspect that it meant by air line, as the aeroplane flies? After hiking along their serpentine course for two hours, alternately climbing steep grades and dropping to lower levels, they came to another sign which read “five and one half miles.” Overcome with the humor of the situation, they settled tn a shady nook, opened out their nopn lunch, which was washed down with a bottle of Bryan beverage thoughtfully provided by the president, and doubly appreciated, for there was not a trickle of water on the whole route. But the scenery was magnificently grand. There were fascinating views of Alpine peaks, some of them wooded ’to the summit with giant pines and spruces, others bastloned by granite crags which pierced the Clear blue sky, and on either handdeep verdure-clad canyons leading off through Interminable vistas to other lofty mountain ranges. And a special charm of these beautiful scenes was their endless variety.

At four o’clock, when the sun began to throw long shadows from the magnificent peaks across the dark canyons below, one of. the party exclaimed: “Why, yonder is the tower telescope on the distant summit of Mt’ Wilson,” and it was still three miles away. At last, after ten miles of strenuous 'hiking, the camp was reached, apd though all felt well paid by the fine scenery they had enjoyed, they were dubious about recommend-* ing the ridge trail to other pilgrims inquiring about the route. Glimpse of Delavan’s Comet. At 3:30 a. m. young Baunlgardt, who Is an enthusiast, summoned the enterprising members to rise and get a glimpse of Delavan’s remarkable cornset, which has now been visible to astronomers for many months. It Is midway between brilliant Capella and the Twins. Though but dimly visible to the naked eye it js flashed out with great beauty in Baumgardt’s powerful binocular telescope, and has a broad comb-like tail, but had then developed any long streamers. Presently the comet began to fade in the approaching dawn and then the party adjourned to Echo Rock to witness the novelty of a sunrise over, the San Antonio range of mountains. A level stratum of cloud resembling molten gold adorned the summit. Suddenly a rim of translucent silver and then a sphere of pure undazzling lightrose as if it were a gigantic bubble issuing from the cloud. Words fail to express the exquisite beauty of the scene. It well compensated for the toilsome climb of the previous day and the broken slumbers of the morning. From Echo Rock the -party went

over to the snow telescope, which lies prone, 100 feet in length, along the edge of the cliff. The sun’s rays are directed into it by an ingenious mechanism of two plane mirrors. The Image of the sun, projected on a screen visible to all, is seven inches in diameter. The largest previous one was only five inches. Near the eastern limb (astronomical parlance for edge) a large spot was visible, the largest that has appeared for several years. • ' Big Tower Telescope. Next they visited the great tower telescope near by. The massive double tower —one within the other to prevent vibration of the inner one—rises 150 feet from the ground where its four steel columns rest on piers which reach down to the granite base of the mountalff. Beneath the surface is a pit 78 feet in depth at the bottom of which there is a chamber where the temperature is practically uniform, and the results of observations are accurately registered. Two exceedingly busy men, Dr. Charles E. St, John and his efficient assistant were making and recording spectroscopic observations of the sun, whose image, 16% Inches in diameter, was projected down from a dome on the top of the tower. The solar atffiios* phere was boiling round 'a huge sun spot 30,000 miles across. Astronomers in other parts of the world are anxiously awaiting reports of Mt Wilson observers in this toWer telescope. While the privileged party were watchdag the manipulation of the complicated mechanism Doctor St John produced a spectrum on glass about twenty inches in length. As it proved to be Imperfect he cut small sections off with a diamond and distributed them among the visitors, and they will be kept as cherished mementoes of the occasion. Note carefully the man who owns a soft, persuasive voice. • • A -

LOOKING FROM TELESCOPE TOWER.