xiv OBITUARY NOTICES. 



and cheerful even at the last moments, as I am told by those around 

 him. 



I have thus dwelt at some length upon events of Abbe's early 

 career and his family life and last days, as heretofore these have 

 been known only to the family and intimate friends, whereas many 

 of his labors in the field of meteorology and his achievements in the 

 interests of the public welfare have frequently been recorded and 

 published. The more notable of these events will now be mentioned 

 briefly in review. 



His life and work up to the time he assumed charge of the 

 Cincinnati Observatory must be looked upon as a period of educa- 

 tion and preparation. The subsequent years were years of produc- 

 tion and harvest. His inaugural address June 30, 1868, at the 

 Cincinnati Observatory presents an outline and program of work 

 in astronomy, meteorology, terrestrial magnetism, surveying and 

 engineering, all characterized by a regard for public welfare that 

 could be accomplished in full only with prolonged labor and re- 

 sources far beyond those of the observatory itself. This very com- 

 prehensiveness, this all inclusiveness of treatment was characteristic 

 of Abbe's view of matters and his method of handling problems he 

 attacked. Among the suggestions in his address was his proposal 

 for the creation of a system of storm warnings and forecasts by 

 means of weather reports collected by electric telegraph. More than 

 a year elapsed before Abbe was able to make a practical demonstra- 

 tion of his plans for forecasting the weather. How well he suc- 

 ceeded in this undertaking is best shown by his own words quoted 

 from his annual report to the Board of Control of the Cincinnati 

 Observatory, June, 1870: 



"This subject having been brought', by myself, to the attention of the 

 Chamber of Commerce of this city, that body, in June last (1869), authorized 

 me to organize a system of daily weather reports and storm predictions. Ex- 

 perienced observers at distant points offered their gratuitous cooperation. 

 The Western Union Telegraph Company offered the use of their line at a 

 nominal price. The Bulletin began to be issued September i, in manuscript 

 form, for the special use of the Chamber of Commerce, and began to be 

 printed a week later as an independent publication. 



" This Bulletin was supported for three months, as at first agreed on, by 

 the Chamber of Commerce; its conduct then passed entirely into the hands 

 of the Observatory, and has thus continued until the past month. The inde- 



