294
who proposed that “a magnetic observatory ought to be founded, which is lacking
in Italy and could provide useful service to Science” (Relazione (3
a
) 1918: 6–7).
This proposal was also supported by Senator Augusto Righi (1850–1920), an eminent professor of physics at Bologna University. The physicist Antonino Lo Surdo
(1880–1949), director of the Royal Geophysical Observatory in Florence, was proposed as one who could be responsible for the magnetic observatory, and he was
invited to Reggio in 1913 to present the new scientific project and the business plan
to the Committee.
17.9 The First World War
The outbreak of the First World War cooled off this accumulation of ideas, projects,
and criticisms; and the large devaluation of the lira did not favor the expected
increase of capital, which consisted almost entirely of Italian Government securities. The third Committee Report, in 1918 (the centenary of Secchi’s birth), declared
its value to be 146,974.55 lire. This was double that of the first Report of 1897, and
an increase from 1910; but given the devaluation of the lira in the meantime, its
actual value had fallen almost by a half (see Table 17.1).
The same Report mentioned a new prospect (or a new hindrance!) for the
Monument. Michele Rajna (1854–1920), director of Bologna University
Astronomical Observatory, intended to move the Observatory from the center of the
city to a more suitable site. Among various possibilities, he contacted the Secchi
Monument Committee and proposed to build the scientific monument on the hills
near Bologna, keeping it named for the Jesuit astronomer. However, in a letter of
April 1907 by Millosevich, he was informed of the Committee’s refusal to give its
funds to an institution set in Bologna.
35
In the summer of 1912, contacts resumed among Guido Horn d’Arturo
(1879–1967), assistant to Rajna, and people related to the Secchi Monument
affaire:
36
the poet Naborre Campanini (1850–1925) from Reggio, Carlo Bonacini
from Modena University, and the lawyer Carlo Morandi, who replaced Levi as president of the Committee. The situation had substantially changed, thanks to Adolfo
Merlani (1856–1924), assistant professor of mathematical analysis and honorary
assistant to the chairs of astronomy and infinitesimal calculus at the University;
Merlani had donated some property located in the hills nearby Bologna to build the
new observatory.
37
On April 18, 1916, after an inspection of the site at Mount
Grifone, there was a meeting at the Bologna University Rectorate; the rector, Leone
Pesci (1852–1917), Righi, Merlani, and Rajna, for the University, and Morandi and
35 E. Millosevich to M. Rajna, Rome Apr 4, 1907 (AABo, Serie Storica Specola, B46.1.77) and
Relazione (2
a
) (1910: 17–18).
36 AABo, Serie Storica Specola, B29.3 “Monumento al Padre Angelo Secchi.”
37 AABo, Serie Storica Specola, B29.6.1 “Stazione astronomica sul Monte Grifone.”
F. Bònoli and A. Mandrino
who proposed that “a magnetic observatory ought to be founded, which is lacking
in Italy and could provide useful service to Science” (Relazione (3
a
) 1918: 6–7).
This proposal was also supported by Senator Augusto Righi (1850–1920), an eminent professor of physics at Bologna University. The physicist Antonino Lo Surdo
(1880–1949), director of the Royal Geophysical Observatory in Florence, was proposed as one who could be responsible for the magnetic observatory, and he was
invited to Reggio in 1913 to present the new scientific project and the business plan
to the Committee.
17.9 The First World War
The outbreak of the First World War cooled off this accumulation of ideas, projects,
and criticisms; and the large devaluation of the lira did not favor the expected
increase of capital, which consisted almost entirely of Italian Government securities. The third Committee Report, in 1918 (the centenary of Secchi’s birth), declared
its value to be 146,974.55 lire. This was double that of the first Report of 1897, and
an increase from 1910; but given the devaluation of the lira in the meantime, its
actual value had fallen almost by a half (see Table 17.1).
The same Report mentioned a new prospect (or a new hindrance!) for the
Monument. Michele Rajna (1854–1920), director of Bologna University
Astronomical Observatory, intended to move the Observatory from the center of the
city to a more suitable site. Among various possibilities, he contacted the Secchi
Monument Committee and proposed to build the scientific monument on the hills
near Bologna, keeping it named for the Jesuit astronomer. However, in a letter of
April 1907 by Millosevich, he was informed of the Committee’s refusal to give its
funds to an institution set in Bologna.
35
In the summer of 1912, contacts resumed among Guido Horn d’Arturo
(1879–1967), assistant to Rajna, and people related to the Secchi Monument
affaire:
36
the poet Naborre Campanini (1850–1925) from Reggio, Carlo Bonacini
from Modena University, and the lawyer Carlo Morandi, who replaced Levi as president of the Committee. The situation had substantially changed, thanks to Adolfo
Merlani (1856–1924), assistant professor of mathematical analysis and honorary
assistant to the chairs of astronomy and infinitesimal calculus at the University;
Merlani had donated some property located in the hills nearby Bologna to build the
new observatory.
37
On April 18, 1916, after an inspection of the site at Mount
Grifone, there was a meeting at the Bologna University Rectorate; the rector, Leone
Pesci (1852–1917), Righi, Merlani, and Rajna, for the University, and Morandi and
35 E. Millosevich to M. Rajna, Rome Apr 4, 1907 (AABo, Serie Storica Specola, B46.1.77) and
Relazione (2
a
) (1910: 17–18).
36 AABo, Serie Storica Specola, B29.3 “Monumento al Padre Angelo Secchi.”
37 AABo, Serie Storica Specola, B29.6.1 “Stazione astronomica sul Monte Grifone.”
F. Bònoli and A. Mandrino