Lick

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

JAMES, an American philanposition thropist; born in Fredericksburg, Pa., 1819 he was employed in Philadelphia, and a , 1796. In 1819 he was employed the same business piano factory in Philadelphia, and a York, and South later started in the same business emigrated to Calihimself in New York, and South in real estate made . In 1847 he emigrated to Calihe placed his entire and investing in real estate made of trustees, to be . In 1874 he placed his entire and charitable pur in the hands of trustees, to be ount thus given was to public and charitable pur- $700,000 was for The total amount thus given was g. v.), to be con- , of which $ 700,000 was for ersity of California, OBSERVATORY ( q. v.), to be conblic baths in San with the University of California, 00 for an institufor free public baths in San California School , and $ 540,000 for an institu- For himself he rebe called the California School his son $150,000, Mechanical Arts. For himself he reves sums varying He died in San each of his relatives sums varying $ 500,000, gave his son $ 150,000, 1876. 2,000 to $ 5,000. He died in San Francisco, Cal., Oct. 1, 1876. Y, an astronommmit of Mount OBSERVATORY, an astronomo., Cal.; erected station; on the summit of Mount James Lick, the , Santa Clara co., Cal .; erected trust-deed the the liberality of James Lick, the powerful teleimposing in the trust - deed the more powerful of erecting " a powerful teleade." In 1881 superior to and more powerful th Alvan Clark any telescope yet made. " In 1881 c astronomical trustees contracted with Alvan Clark ear aperture" for " an achromatic astronomical Clarks would glass of 36 inches clear aperture " o be delivered being the largest the Clarks would was $50,000. to contract for), to be delivered cessfully cast 1, 1883. The price was $ 50,000. Ince, early in glass disk was successfully cast crown-glass & Sons, Paris, France, early in for shipment Its companion, the crown - glass material was was cast and ready for shipment tely cracked close of 1882, but the material was attending that it unfortunately cracked k were expacking. The difficulties attending 1 1886 that casting of the crown disk were exthe Messrs. , and it was not till 1886 that aus safely crowned the efforts of the Messrs. and was This monster object - glass safely s Lick rereached Mount Hamilton, and was tion of a early in 1887. James Lick redestined for himself the selection of a siderable site for the observatory destined sultation his name. After considerable selected and frequent consultation Mount good authorities Mr. Lick selected put into site for the observatory, Mount In is of . The telescope was put into se, and early in 1888. The column is of 20 tons. iron, 10x17 feet at the base, and sts the at the top, and weighs 20 tons. thich is rectangular column rests the nd this weighing four tons, in which is the polar axis. Around this a balcony, on which the assistant is stationed. By a system he is able to adjust the instruon any star desired, and read its by microscopes, illuminated by electric light. The polar axis is of steel, 12 inches in diameter, 10 feet long. The declination axis is also of steel, is 10 inches in diameter, 10 feet long. The tube is of steel, 57 feet long. Its diameter is 4 feet at the center, tapering toward each end to 38 inches. This is made to follow the star by means of a driving-clock, weighing one ton, controlled by a double conical pendulum which is placed near the top, and within the column, and is reached by a landing from the spiral staircase. At the side of the great tube three small telescopes of 6-inch, 4-inch, and 3-inch apertures are attached, which serve as finders. The magnifying power ranges from 180 to 3,000 diameters. The object-glass is 36 inches clear aperture, and weighs, 1 with its cell, 532 pounds. By special accessories, the telescope is adapted to spectroscopic, photographic, and micrometric work. The center of motion is 37 feet above the base and when the telescope is pointed to the zenith the object-glass is 65 feet above the base of the column. When turning the instrument in declination the weight that is put in motion is seven tons, and when turning it in right ascension 14 tons is being moved. The total weight of the instrument is 40 tons.