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knowledge of the past, present and future of the sun and should throw light on the problems of the evolution of the stars, from nebulae through successive stages to that of a red star, which our sun will ultimately become.

Foremost among the instruments em-
ployed at the observatory is the great
Snow reflecting telescope. This is con-
tained in a horizontal structure 220 feet
long, supported on granite pedestals,
with shingled roof and
canvas sides in the form

of louvres or curtains, so
adjusted as to permit the
free circulation of air.
This unique shed is not
only an observatory, but
a workshop and labora-
tory as well. At one
end the massive coelo-
stat pier rises thirty-five
feet from the ground;
upon it are located two
plane mirrors, one of
which is adjusted so as
to be constantly in focus
to receive the sun's rays
at any angle in the sky,
from which they are
transferred to the sta-
tionary mirror and re-
flected from the latter to
either of two concave
mirrors. There mirrors
reflect the images of the
sun, which are so dis-
tinct and sharp as to seem almost tangi-
ble and may be examined and photo-
graphed at will. One mirror produces
One mirror produces
an image of the sun seven inches in di-
ameter at a distance of sixty feet, the
other a sixteen inch image at a focal dis-
tance of 145 feet. The instrument most
frequently employed in the study of these
images is called the spectro-heliograph,
by means of which any desired portion
of the sun's spectrum may be isolated and
examined. Within about two years the
present instruments will be replaced by a

great five foot reflector now being constructed at the observatory shops in Pasadena. This mirror is expected to be the most powerful solar instrument in existence.

The other important telescope in use at Mount Wilson is the Bruce photographic telescope, which is employed by Prof. Barnard in photographing the stars and nebulae, especially the great nebulosities of the Milky Way. The illustrations

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RECEIVING END OF GREAT REFLECTOR TELESCOPE WITH WHICH OBSERVATIONS
ARE BEING TAKEN.

show the nine mile trail to the summit
over which the materials and equipment
for the observatory were hauled to the
summit on muleback and on a specially
devised truck. The building occupied by
the staff of astronomers and assistants at
the Solar Observatory is called the
"Monastery." It stands somewhat lower
than the Snow telescope, at the extreme.
end of a narrow point, and commands a
fine view of the neighboring mountains,
cities and the Pacific ocean.

SERGEANT-MAJOR WALLINGFORD OF ENGLAND FIRING FORTY SHOTS IN A MINUTE WITH

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F

By Dewey Sheldon Beebe

IFTEEN well-aimed shots in nine seconds is the record of Sergeant-Major Wallingford Wallingford of England with the new Halle automatic rifle. The illustrations show him loading and firing this wonderful gun. He made one target of fifteen shots in ninè seconds, and another of forty shots in one minute. Every one of these shots,

TARGET MADE AT 200 YARDS IN THE TRIAL PHOTOGRAPHED ABOVE.

fired at 200 yards, came within a circle of fifteen inches in diameter-in every case he would have hit his man, had he been in battle.

It is not every marksman who can shoot as well as Sergeant-Major Wallingford, but his feat thrusts before the military world the tremendous possibilities of the automatic rifle. That this weapon is the military small-arm of the future has been the opinion of many experts, but the efficiency of the automatic rifle has not, before now, been demonstrated by such conclusive tests. Some of the advantages of the Halle over other automatic rifles are that the automatic mechanism is worked by the recoil of the gun and not by compressed gas drawn from the barrel, and that it is a short-recoil rather than a long-recoil gun. The obvious advantage of a shortrecoil is the lessening of the shock to the gun and its mechanism. Also, in a longrecoil rifle, it is necessary that the recoil be as quick as possible, so that the barrel must be made light, which is an added source of weakness.

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The possibilities of the automatic rifle in war are limited only by its ability to stand hard service. The automatic rifle, for use in the field, must be simple in construction and as nearly like the present army rifle as possible. It must be built so that the soldier will not have to be a master mechanic to keep it in working order. Then, it must be capable of use as an ordinary gun, if the automatic arrangement be thrown out of order by rust or dirt. Its real efficiency is proportional to its certainty of actionit must work at all times and under all conditions.

The automatic rifle will be of greatest service in defensive operations. To repulse an attack upon trenches or stockades requires a perfect rain of shot, out of all proportion to the numbers of the advancing party. With the Halle rifle the cartridges may be fired at the rate of 300 a minute and at close range, where accurate marksmanship is not necessary, a blanket fire of this kind would destroy everything before it. The terrible destruction pouring from a thousand guns firing 300 shots a minute is too appalling to dwell upon.

The use of the automatic rifle by cavalry will be one of the greatest advan

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FIFTEEN SHOTS IN NINE SECONDS. FIRING WITH THE EMERGENCY MAGAZINE.

Two hundred yards from target and all shots come within circle of 15 inches diameter.

horseback, the gun would be fired from the side instead of from the shoulder.

As an arm for scouts, sharpshooters, pickets and spies, it would have no equal, and the potential advantage secured by the soldier knowing that his weapon is far superior to that with which his enemies are armed is worth considering.

An important feature of this gun is that there is comparatively little fatigue in firing so rapidly. With the ordinary magazine gun, where the operator has to go through several motions and reaim after each shot, the strain is tremendous. A few minutes rapid firing

will exhaust the hardiest veteran. But in actual trial with the Halle rifle 250 rounds have been fired in eight minutes without tiring the marksman.

The ammunition item is one of importance, but it is claimed that there is less waste with the automatic rifle than with the ordinary repeating gun. Where the marksman has nothing to do but pull the trigger, his aim is much better than where he has to throw the bolt himself, and thus get his weapon out of line.

In spite of the opposition which is being raised to its adoption, it seems certain that the automatic rifle will open a new era in infantry warfare.

Over the Ice by Auto

A

By Max A. R. Brunner

N automobile sleigh which has a rather promising future has recently been built and is illustrated herewith. The sleigh is in the new 1906 type, 23 feet long, 8 feet high and is driven by a 4 cylinder air cooled motor. The latter develops 12 horse power and is provided with air jackets, instead of the usual water circulating system. A blower geared to the engine shaft produces a strong artificial air-draught and effectively cools the heated parts. The engine is placed in front and drives-by means of a countershaft, sprocket-wheel and long chain-the spike-drive wheel, as shown in the picture. This wheel is spring-pressed against the ground and has abundant vertical play to overcome

unevenness of the ice or snow. The arms are of steel and have double steel contact points. Thus a most positive power is applied for driving the sleigh. Just behind the drive-wheel, the brake can be seen, consisting of a curved bar with teeth, a horizontal connecting rod and a foot lever in front of the driver. Thus the bar can be pressed against the ground. Between the floor of the sleigh and the wooden step a string with bells is stretched, at the same time completing the illusion of sleigh-riding and serving as a warning to careless pedestrians.

This auto-sleigh has some remarkable features in its operation. The transmission gear allows two speeds which rates. from 10 to 35 miles an hour. With the special ice wheel in service and the ring

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