Endowment Much Needed

li' diere is any departinent of the University that needs endowment - and it is a pretty generally accepted fact that there are several of them that would not carelessly thrust asido any generous benefaction- it is certain that the astronomical observatory is the one to which outside aid wonld come handiest, and from which great good would inure. The observatory probably gets as little, or perhaps less, appropriation from the funds of the University than any other departnieut. During the past two years there have been expended, outside of the money necessary for salaries, only $2,200, and during the previous years there is reason to believe that the appropriations were of even smaller amount. The reason for this seeming neglect is not far to seek. It is connected with tlie primary purpose for which the state grants money for educational purposes, viz., for the purpose of instruction. When the state enters into the field of scientific exploration forno other reason than that of interest in research, it is argued with a good show of logic that it is getting out of its province. Therefore, when jnouey is appropriated for the observatory for other than the purposes of instruction, it is said that the money is misappropriated. It is for this reason that the observatory has not been advancing mach in the past several years in the way of extending its reputation by discovery. And it is for the same reason that an endowment of, say, $50,000 would be especially handy. With this amount in hand the department of astronomy could afford to give more time to the instructors for purposes of research. Now that the time is almost entirely taken up with teaching, little time can be given to discovery. It was about forty years ago that the observatory was established through the efforts of Dr. Tappan. Aided by Henry N. Walker, oí Detroit, who gave the money for the meridian circle that is now in use, Dr. Tappan gotthe observatory under way. lts flrst director was Bruno, who carne here from Berliu, where he was a favorite pupila of Encke, the great Germán astronomer. Bruno married the daughter of Tappan and when the latter left the institution, Bruno left too. From here Bruno went to Germany and was afterwards appointed astronomer royal of Ireland. His successor here was Watson, who was a student under Bruno, at a time when there were hut few students in the University and when his instructor could devote much of his time to him. While here Watson made several discoveries that have helped to give the observatory its standing. He discovered about tvventy asteroids at a time when the heavens were notmapped out as they are at present, and when the discovery meant more than it now does. Watson has since written a standard work on theoretical astronomy. Healso did good work on the theory of the moon. The fact that the University has these men, and the additional fact that it has turned out many good astronomical students, has given the observatory. the prominence and the reputation that it has enjoyed. A mong its proteges were Campbell, Schaeberle and Colton of of Lick observatory ; Ilussey of Leiand Stanford; Doolittle, of Lehjgh. Woo.lward, professor of mechanica at Columbia ; Wheeler, now in the employ of the army. It inay not be generally known that this University luis led in astronomical instruction all the universities in the country. That also has added to the reputation of the observatory. Very little leaching is done in this country. At Harvard there is almost none at all. Yale gives some instruction, while at Princeton there is a little teaching. For years this was the only place where one could get astronomical instruction. Now of course we have the large observatories for scientific purposes and the Detroit observatory has dropped behind. The only way to get it even with the others is to increase the facilities for independent work, and this with the present outlook can only be done by tbc aid of endowment. At present there is but little original work being done, which fact is principally due to the lack of time on the part of the instructors. Mr. S. D Townley, the present assistant to Asaph Hall, jr., the director, is makicg observations on the comets and asteroids with the equatorial. He has also been doing some work on the variable stars. There are now about seventy students doin; work in astronomy in the University, some of whom are doing advanced work, being assistants or professors from olher institutions. An inventory of the instrumente in the observatory foots up as follows : A twelve and one-half inch equatorial which is now bnt rarely used on account of being out of date ; a good meridian circle; a new chronograph, purchased since the advent of Mr. Hall ; a small transit and a sextant. Besides these Mr. Hall bas recently added a magnificent new clock to the outfit, keeping the oíd Germán clock made" forty years ago by Tiede in Berlin. Tliis, together with the rneterological ustruments owned by the University, constitutes the astronomical stock in trade of the state of Michigan and of the University. The foregoing facts were gained from m interview with Mr. Asaph Hall, jr., the courteous director of the observatory, during a recent pleasant evening spent with him in the observatory.