172 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



As to the practical use of electrical observations for meteoro- 

 logical predictions, I believe that, in their present state, they can- 

 not surpass the barometer, but prove a valuable aid to it. Thus, 

 they will often predict storms by a sudden change from positive 

 into negative electricity ; snowstorms develop locally a high de- 

 gree of positive electricity, while for great distances they create a 

 vacuum, a total absence of electricity ; during an Aurora high 

 positive electricity prevails, with sudden fluctuations in intensity, 

 etc. If observations of electricity were made as generally as 

 those of barometer, their usefulness in that respect would be 

 greatly enhanced. 



The interest in meteorological observations has been awak- 

 ened in this country. Our meteorological Signal Bureau, under 

 supervision of the government, has in the short time of its exist- 

 ence fulfilled all reasonable expectations, and promises to become 

 more useful every year. If it could be so arranged, that perhaps 

 at a dozen stations, well-selected throughout the United States, 

 the usual meteorological observations were combined with those 

 of magnetism, electricity, and Sun-spots, a most desirable object 

 would be obtained with comparatively little expense. 



Such investigations offer also a fine field to young men of a 

 scientific turn of mind. St. Louis is no longer the village of old, 

 with a coon-skin currency and a small Indian traffic. It has grown 

 in population to be the fourth city of the Union ; millionaires and 

 rich merchants reside here, whose sons receive a liberal educa- 

 tion and they are not under the necessity of working hard for a 

 living ; they are in a position to cultivate the arts and sciences, 

 and to aspire to the higher pursuits of life ; the increase of hu- 

 man knowledge by scientific research is within their compass. 

 History tells us that the trophies of Miltiades disturbed the slum- 

 bers of Themistocles. Should not some young man in our midst, 

 x)f independent means and higher ambition, be aroused by the 

 fame of a Tyndall, a Bunsen, a Secchi, and others, to erect here 

 a physical observatory for original investigation in Magnetism, 

 Electricity, Sun-spots, and that most wonderful of recent discov- 

 eries, Spectroscopy ; to naturalize these studies amongst us, and 

 to build up for himself, during his lifetime, a monument " more 

 durable than brass" and more solid than greenbacks ? The rest- 

 less spirit of youth requires only direction to useful activity — may 

 that seed-grain of advice from an older man fall upon fertile soil ! 



