180
and it was impossible to repair them (Anuario del Real Observatorio de Madrid
1867: 262). It seems that the meteorograph was disassembled and removed from its
original emplacement around 1868; in 1890 it still existed but it did not function
(Observatorio Real de Madrid 1890: 38–39). Today nothing of this meteorograph
survives.
10.3.2 Manila (1869)
The Manila Observatory was one of the most important of the Far East (Vregille
1906: 55–72; Repetti 1948; Hennessey 1960, Udías 2003: 269–281; The Manila
Observatory 2007; Alvarez 2016). The first meteorological observations were made
there in 1865 by Father Francesco Colina (1837–1893) in the pigeon house of the
Ateneo de Municipal, which was the local Jesuit school founded in 1860. That same
year a violent typhoon hit Manila resulting in heavy damage.
The observations set up by Colina on this occasion attracted the attention of
Father Jaime Nonell y Mas (1844–1922), who plotted some curves from them.
These were published in the Diario de Manila and aroused the interest of merchants, mariners, and businessmen, who were ready to financially support the acquisition of new and better instruments in order to obtain regular and systematic
observations.
Meanwhile, in 1866 Father Jesuit Federico Faura (1840–1897) arrived in Manila
to teach science and to take care of the observatory. Under Faura’s long direction,
the observatory became one of the most important in the Far East and one of the
pioneering centers for the study of tropical typhoons. Nonell was convinced of the
necessity of having a continuous recording apparatus, and in 1866 the Secchi meteorograph represented the state of the art in this field. The local businessmen collected 6000 pesos to buy one.
In 1867, when Father Colina left Manila to complete his studies, he first went to
Paris to consult Father Secchi in order to acquire the apparatus. The meteorograph
arrived at the beginning of 1869, without any instructions. Faura did not lose heart;
after having said, “Leave me here alone for three days and with God’s help I hope
to solve it” (Repetti 1948: 13), he began to assemble it. In a few days, having surmounted a few difficulties, the meteorograph was operational; and after a short
time, Faura could send the first recorded tables to Secchi. From a photograph of the
late nineteenth century, it appears that the apparatus was the most expensive one,
complete with the humidity recording system (Fig. 10.3).
At first it was installed in the building of the Ateneo de Municipal, and then in
1877 it was moved (together with the other instruments) to another building facing
the former. In 1886 the observatory moved to a better location in the new Jesuit
school south of Manila; in 1884 the observatory officially became the headquarters
of the Meteorological Service of the Philippines. It appears that the meteorograph
remained operational for about 20 years, and later it was preserved as a museum piece.
P. Brenni
and it was impossible to repair them (Anuario del Real Observatorio de Madrid
1867: 262). It seems that the meteorograph was disassembled and removed from its
original emplacement around 1868; in 1890 it still existed but it did not function
(Observatorio Real de Madrid 1890: 38–39). Today nothing of this meteorograph
survives.
10.3.2 Manila (1869)
The Manila Observatory was one of the most important of the Far East (Vregille
1906: 55–72; Repetti 1948; Hennessey 1960, Udías 2003: 269–281; The Manila
Observatory 2007; Alvarez 2016). The first meteorological observations were made
there in 1865 by Father Francesco Colina (1837–1893) in the pigeon house of the
Ateneo de Municipal, which was the local Jesuit school founded in 1860. That same
year a violent typhoon hit Manila resulting in heavy damage.
The observations set up by Colina on this occasion attracted the attention of
Father Jaime Nonell y Mas (1844–1922), who plotted some curves from them.
These were published in the Diario de Manila and aroused the interest of merchants, mariners, and businessmen, who were ready to financially support the acquisition of new and better instruments in order to obtain regular and systematic
observations.
Meanwhile, in 1866 Father Jesuit Federico Faura (1840–1897) arrived in Manila
to teach science and to take care of the observatory. Under Faura’s long direction,
the observatory became one of the most important in the Far East and one of the
pioneering centers for the study of tropical typhoons. Nonell was convinced of the
necessity of having a continuous recording apparatus, and in 1866 the Secchi meteorograph represented the state of the art in this field. The local businessmen collected 6000 pesos to buy one.
In 1867, when Father Colina left Manila to complete his studies, he first went to
Paris to consult Father Secchi in order to acquire the apparatus. The meteorograph
arrived at the beginning of 1869, without any instructions. Faura did not lose heart;
after having said, “Leave me here alone for three days and with God’s help I hope
to solve it” (Repetti 1948: 13), he began to assemble it. In a few days, having surmounted a few difficulties, the meteorograph was operational; and after a short
time, Faura could send the first recorded tables to Secchi. From a photograph of the
late nineteenth century, it appears that the apparatus was the most expensive one,
complete with the humidity recording system (Fig. 10.3).
At first it was installed in the building of the Ateneo de Municipal, and then in
1877 it was moved (together with the other instruments) to another building facing
the former. In 1886 the observatory moved to a better location in the new Jesuit
school south of Manila; in 1884 the observatory officially became the headquarters
of the Meteorological Service of the Philippines. It appears that the meteorograph
remained operational for about 20 years, and later it was preserved as a museum piece.
P. Brenni