INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS FOR THE YEAR 1871. x ix 



will take a prominent part in the observations of the transit 

 of Venus which is to take place in 18*74. In the winter of 

 1871 Congress authorized the formation of a commission to 

 make the necessary arrangements, and expend any money 

 that might be appropriated for this purpose. This commis- 

 sion consists of Admiral Sands and Professors Peirce, Henry, 

 Newcomb, and Harkness. It only remains for Congress to 

 furnish the requisite means for organizing the expeditions. 



Meteorology, in its practical bearings, has been greatly ad- 

 vanced in the New World by the operations of the United 

 States Signal Corps, under General Myer, this branch of the 

 public service not limiting itself, as heretofore, to the collect- 

 ing and reporting information by telegraph of the condition 

 and changes of atmospheric phenomena in different parts 

 of the country, but now furnishing, in addition, forecasts of 

 the weather, which are intended to indicate the probabilities 

 for the coming twenty-four hours. These predictions have 

 proved to be singularly accurate, and are now greatly relied 

 Upon by all classes of the community for influencing the op- 

 erations of the day. The announcements are made by tele- 

 graph to all parts of the country, and when any severe storm 

 is anticipated, the fact is published by means of signals over 

 the greater part of the sea-coast and lakes of the country. 

 The operations of the same corps on the summit of Mount 

 Washington during the past winter have tended to throw a 

 great deal of light upon the condition and movements of the 

 higher currents of air. 



The Smithsonian Institution and the Medical Department 

 of the United States Army have prosecuted their systems of 

 meteorological observations during the year, the former also 

 distributing a large number of rain-gauges, and the latter con- 

 tinuing to improve the character of the instruments. 



The climatological condition of America during the year 

 has exhibited certain marked peculiarities ; among others, 

 unusual prevalence of rain during the spring and summer on 

 the west coast of South America, a region previously almost 

 unacquainted with this phenomenon, and of deep snows in the 

 Pocky Mountains of the United States in the ensuing winter. 



The government meteorological establishments of Europe 

 have also continued their system of operations, somewhat 

 on the plan of that of the United States, but on a much small- 



