274 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



study the progress of storms, and to predict what changes in the weather 

 may be expected at the east, from the indications furnished by places 

 farther west. For example, if a black card is seen in the morning on 

 the station at Cincinnati, indicating rain at that city, a rain-storm may 

 confidently be expected at Washington at about seven o'clock in the 

 evening. Indeed, so uniformly has this prediction been verified, that 

 last winter the advertising in the afternoon papers of the lectures to 

 be delivered at the Institution that evening was governed by the 

 condition of the weather in the morning at Cincinnati, — a rainy 

 morning at the latter inducing a postponement of the lecture. 



It must be evident, from the facts given, that if a system of tele- 

 graphing over the whole country east of the Rocky Mountains were 

 established, information could be given to the Middle and Eastern 

 States of the approach of disturbances of the atmosphere of much 

 value to the agricultui'ist, the ship-owner, and to all others who transact 

 business affected by changes of weather, as well as of importance to 

 the invalid and the traveller. Indeed, with a proper combination of 

 the lines now in operation, daily intelligence might be obtained in 

 the city of Boston which would be of the highest interest to its in- 

 habitants. Professor Henry mentioned Boston in particular, because 

 this city is so situated that the storms, both of the southern and 

 western class, reach it after they have been felt in New York, and in 

 other places which are not as far east and north. It is necessary to 

 remark, that the same use of the telegraph is in a measure inapplica- 

 ble to the inhabitants of Western Europe, since they live on the east- 

 ern side of an ocean, and cannot be apprised of the approach of storms 

 from the west. For the same reason, the general laws of storms are 

 more conveniently studied by the meteorologists of this country than 

 by those of Great Britain and France. 



It should be distinctly understood, that the remarks which have been 

 made in this communication relate to the more violent changes of the 

 weather which occur in autumn, winter, and spring. The thunder- 

 showers which occur almost daily during the warm weather in summer 

 have somewhat of a local character, and commence at the same time, 

 and frequently at the same hour, for several days in succession, at the 

 same and different places ; but wherever they commence, they move 

 eastward over the country until they are exhausted. 



Professor Henry also spoke of the facts collected in regard to the 



