TEXAS EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION JAMES J. KASTER Chairman (512) 463-2800 Honorable William P. Clements Governor of Texas State Capitol Building Austin, Texas 78711 Dear Governor: 624 TEC BUILDING AUSTIN, TEXAS 78778 March 27, 1989 WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, JR. Governor McDonald Osservator , in a joint effort with Pennsylvania State University, is rai7N"r- u id a revolutionary telescope, a Spectroscopic Survey Telescope (SST). It will be more powerful than any telescope now in existence. One of the revolutionary parts is the cost will be $6 million, with each university putting up $3 million, which if built the "classical" way would cost $60 million. The University of Texas has stated if McDonald will raise $2 million they will put up the other $1 million. Right now McDonald has raised about $400 thousand. Penn state has just about raised their $3 million. Dr. Harlan Smith, who has been the Director of McDonald Observatory for twenty-five years, has asked if you and Lt. Governor Hobby would write a few letters to give him the opportunity to explain, to those who will let him, how the telescope will put Texas into the forefront of scientific observation. I have enclosed copies of the letters that Lt. Governor Hobby wrote. I am also enclosing a list provided by the University of people McDonald is allowed to contact. This is not the complete list, but other persons and foundations have been contacted by others. If you would look the list over, and if you would, please write three or four letters to allow Dr. Harlan Smith to go talk to them. If you need more information prior to writing, please let me know and I will get the information. If you want to talk to Dr. Smith prior to writing, then I will be happy to arrange that also. Sincerely, Jam J. Kaster Cha an C-Anclosures