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Report on Missouri Rainfall, with Averages for Ten 

 Years ending December, 1887. 



By Francis E. Nipher. 



In the autumn of 1877 the writer secured the cooperation of 

 observers in various parts of Missouri, with a view of making 

 observations on rainfall and temperature. The volunteer organi- 

 zation then formed, and which began operations in December of 

 that year, was known as the "Missouri Weather Service." The ob- 

 servers were nearly all furnished with rain-gauges similar to those 

 already in use in the Iowa Weather Service, and for which they 

 paid the cost price. These gauges were plain cylinders of heavy 

 tin plate, having a depth of one fjot and a diameter of 7.06 centi- 

 meters, so that each cubic centimeter of water caught represented 

 a hundredth of an inch of rainfall. The rainfall was, however, 

 in most, if not all, cases determined by observing the wetted part 

 of a small l)ox-wood scale, graduated to inches and tenths. 



The rain-gauge was the only instrument furnished to observers 

 by the central office. In a few cases, observers bought Green's 

 thermometers, and others observed temperatures with ordinary 

 thermometers. The labor involved in the direction of a complete 

 meteorological service was, however, greater than the dii'ector 

 could undertake, and it has unfortunately happened that the su- 

 pervision needed in order to obtain first-class rainfall data could 

 not be given. It was hoped that Missouri would follow the 

 example of Iowa, and establish the weather service as a state 

 institution, and to that end a bill was introduced into the Legis- 

 lature in 18S2 to establish such a weather service, granting a 

 couple of thousand dollars per annum for its support. The con- 

 sideration of this bill furnished an occasion for mirth to some of 

 the members of that body, but failed to awaken any general 

 interest. 



This experience was, in fact, so depressing that no further at- 

 tempt has been made in that direction.* Twenty-five other states 



* Since the above was written a bill has been introduced into the Legislature by Mr. 

 Tuttle, of Pettis county. There is little reason to believe that it will pass, althougli mem- 



