Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/351

 THE SECOND ERA OF BUILDING 309 The equipment consists of a twelve-inch equatorial telescope, with visual lens, and twelve-inch lens for photographic work, including its pier and dome. Also a spectroheliograph and other attachments for solar and stellar obser- vations and photography. Also other physical, electrical, photographic, and astronomical apparatus and fixtures, together with a machine shop for fine mechanical work, all of which I value at thirty thousand dollars. You are at liberty to use the above apparatus, and the building in which it stands, until such time as your new Observatory is ready to receive it. Yours very truly, W. E. HALE This gift was regarded as a very valuable addition to the facilities and equipment of the plant. The new Observatory was finished in 1897, and formally delivered by Mr. Yerkes to the University, through Mr. Ryerson, the President of the Board of Trustees, and dedicated on October 21 of that year. The formal exercises of dedication had been preceded by a conference of astronomers from all parts of the country. Several hundred guests witnessed the ceremonies of dedication. The address was delivered by Pro- fessor James E. Keeler, director of the Allegheny Observatory, upon the subject, "The Importance of Astrophysical Research and the Relations of Astrophysics to Other Physical Sciences." Mr. Yerkes in presenting the Observatory to the University represented by the President of the Board of Trustees, said: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: After five years of patient waiting and incessant labor, we are brought together to perform the agreeable duty which has been in our minds during the whole of that period, namely, the dedication of this Observatory. It was in October, 1892, that Dr. Harper and Professor Hale arranged for the manu- facture of the telescope and building the Observatory, and since that time the work has been incessant. Before this, however, three years had been spent in preparing the rough glass, making eight years in all which were required to produce what we now have before us. The anxiety of those who were so deeply interested in the work can scarcely be imagined, for, as they followed it step by step from its incipiency to its finish, many doubts and fears naturally crossed their minds. As no glass had ever been made of the size of this, there was no criterion to go by, and it was necessary to leave everything to the future. Then, again, there was the risk of accident, and when the glass was safely lodged in its final resting-place, the hearts of many who are now present beat much more freely and with greater satisfaction than they had since the pro- jecting of the work. A priceless gem, to these gentlemen, was at last in