624 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



notes by the editor on a proposed meteorological commission, university research at 

 Washington, D. C, instructions to the voluntary meteorological observers of the 

 United States Hydrographic Office, lunar influences in meteorology, the red dust of 

 March, 1901, and the Milwaukee, Wis., convention of Weather Bureau officials 



(illus.). 



No. 8. — Special contributions on The island of Porto Rico, by J. L. Cline; The 

 meteorological observatory of Saint Ignatius College, Cleveland, Ohio, by J. Kenealy; 

 The tornado in Hudson County, N. J., on August 24, 1901, by J. H. Eadie; The solar 

 constant, by F. W. Very; Ice caves and frozen wells as meteorological phenomena 

 (illus.), by H. H. Kimball: Our kilHng heat, by H. L. Abbot; The moon and the 

 weather, by L. W. Meech; and Tornado and waterspout at Norfolk, Va., on August 

 6, 1901, by J. J. Grey; and notes by the editor on organization of the Philippine 

 Weather Bureau by the United States Philippine Commission, the autumn haze, the 

 moon and the weather, meteorology in Madagascar, popular errors in meteorology and 

 geographj', and further explanations desired. 



No. 9. — A special contribution on the general circulation of the atmosphere, espe- 

 cially in arctic regions, by H. H. Kimball; and notes by the editor on wind force in 

 tornadoes, a new field for kites in meteorology, climate and crops — a problem with 

 two solutions, seismometers in meteorology, the ol)servation of shooting stars, the 

 south polar expeditions, and answers to correspondents — popular queries about rain, 

 hail, wind, and frost. 



Yukon weather, U. G. Myers ( U. S. Dept. Ayr., Weather Bureau, Monthly Weather 

 Bevlew, J9 (1!)01), No. 7, pp. 309-311, fi(j. 1). — A discussion based mainly on obser- 

 vations at Eagle from September, 1899, to May, 1901, inclusive. The highest tem- 

 peratures occurred between June 15 and July 15, sometimes reaching a maximum of 

 90° F. The lowest temperatures occurred as a rule in January, although not confined 

 to such close limits as the maximum temperature. The minimum temperature 

 recorded at Eagle is —68° F., which occurred in January of 1900 and 1901. A mini- 

 mum of —70° F. is recorded at Seventymile Creek, 30 miles northwest of Eagle, for 

 February 12, 1901. The mean temperature for March, April, and May, 1900, was 

 28°; for the same period in 1901, 20°. Rainfall was light, being about 12 in. annually, 

 75 per cent of which fell during the 6 months April-September. The heaviest rain- 

 fall occurred regularly in August. The snow fall was not heavy, averaging between 3 

 and 3.5 ft. per year. The summers were cloudy. In conclusion, the author says: 



"While no one ever expects to see the interior of Alaska become an agricultural 

 country, its possibilities in that line are not so limited as at first supposed. The 

 ground is practically all frozen to a varying depth and covered with soggy moss, and, 

 where level, swamps abound. Almost all localities are capable of furnishing garden 

 spots at least, and the swamjis are bountiful sources of native hay which is known 

 to Vje good fodder for horses and cattle. While the soil is sour and needs cultiva- 

 tion and aeration to render it more productive, hardy vegetables sufficient for all local 

 needs can be grown; radishes, lettuce, turnips, and jiotatoes do well and are particu- 

 larly sweet and succulent." 



The Island of Porto Rico, J. L. Cline ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Weather Bureau, Monthly 

 Weather Revieic, 29 {1901), No. 8. pp. 353-355). — "The climate is not so oppressive as 

 one might expect in the Tropics. A cool, very pleasant, and most welcome breeze 

 generally l^lows across the island, particularly in the afternoon and at night. . . . 

 Much cloudy weather prevails, with an occasional fog in the mountains. San Juan 

 has an annual mean temperature of 78.5°. The warmest weather prevails from June 

 to October, during which period the normal temperature ranges from 80.4 to 81.4°, 

 with the highest in August, but slightly cooler weather prevails in the mountains. 

 The coolest weather occurs in December, January, and February; during these 

 months the normal temperature ranges from 75.2 to 76.5°, with the lowest in Fel)ru- 

 ary. . . . Temperatures of 50° or slightly below have been recorded in the moun- 



