The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 50
Description of the Building
Description of the Building.
During February and March, 1880, the old observatory building, which stood a [ unclear: we] feet west of the main University edifice, was moved and enlarged. It now stands [ unclear: if] the beautiful eminence in the Campus near the Chalybeate Spring. The meridian [ unclear: he] of each pier now passes between the University Building and the President's [ unclear: mansion]. In this position a good horizon is secured. In the old position the horizon [ unclear: is] obstructed on the north by the Scientific Building, and on the east by the [ unclear: University] Building.
The old dome was found to be too small for the Equatorial recently purchased, [ unclear: and] a brick addition was made at the east end for the accommodation of this [ unclear: instruct]. The whole building is sixty three feet long, from east to west, and fronts at.
The Equatorial room ( A) is in the form of a regular octagonal prism surmounted [ unclear: fa] hemispherical dome. Its width on the inside is 18 feet; the ceiling of the lower [ unclear: part] is 10 1-5 feet high, and the top of the dome is 14? feet above the second floor.
The dome revolves upon six grooved wheels of cast iron, which run on a circular [ unclear: rail]. Motion is communicated to the dome by a train of wheel work gearing to a [ unclear: rim] of cogs attached to the interior face of the base plate of the dome.
The aperture in the dome, which is 22 inches wide, and extends a little beyond [ unclear: he] zenith, is closed by four shutters.
The pier for the support of the Telescope is built of hard brick laid in hydraulic [ unclear: cement]. It extends 6 feet below the surface of the earth, and is 6 feet square at the [ unclear: as]. That part of the pier which is below the first floor is in the form of a square [ unclear: rism], and is surrounded by a brick wall, which does not touch the pier, in order to [ unclear: event] the communication of vibrations by the passing of carriages and wagons. [ unclear: The] top of the pier is four feet [ unclear: square], that portion of it above the first floor being in the form of the frustum of a square pyramid. Upon the top of the pier is laid a [ unclear: quaere] cap-stone, 4 feet square and 5 inches thick, which supports, by 4 bearings, lie wooden stand on which the Telescope is mounted.
The Alt-azimuth room ( C) is 13½ feet long from east to west, 13 1-5 feet wide, [ unclear: and] the ceiling of the lower part is 9¾ feet high. It is surmounted by a roof in the [ unclear: Kim] of a cone, which revolves on three cannon balls.
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The New Observatory.
The aperture in this dome, which is 15 inches wide, is closed by two shutters. [ unclear: pier], which extends 4 feet into the ground, is built of the same kind of material, in the same manner as that of the Equatorial.
The transit room ( B) is situated between the Equatorial room and the [ unclear: Altnuth] room. It is 28½ feet long from east to west, 131-5 feet wide, and 8 feet high high. [ unclear: a] room contains three piers, constructed as those already described, for the support of the Transit Instrument, the Transit Theodolite, and the Sidereal Clock, [ unclear: are] are two meridian observing slits 17 inches wide, one for the Transit Instruct, [ unclear: at] the other for the Transit Theodolite. These slits begin 4 feet 5 inches from floor and extend through the roof, thus affording an uninterrupted view of the [ unclear: industrial] meridian down to the horizon.
All these rooms are now lighted by gas.