REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 51 



■wind fiiuls little disturbance from inequality of surface, wbile tlie storms 

 on the opposite American coast have their origin lar inland, and arc sub- 

 ject to greatchangesof form by mountains or other obstructions in their 

 passage to the Atlantic Ocean. The system adopted by the Institution 

 for predicting changes in the weather was intermitted by the war, and 

 since the restoration of peace the telegraph companies could not be in- 

 duced to furnish the transmission of the necessary telegrams free of 

 charge ; and as this project was intended as a practical api^lication df 

 science and would require a much larger ai)propriation for its support 

 than could be afforded by the Smithson fund, the proposition to renew 

 ,the system has been allowed to rest. At the i^resent session of Congress, 

 however, a resolution was offered by Mr. Paine, of Wisconsin, which 

 was adopted, authorizing an appropriation of $25,000 for a system of 

 weather signals, especially along the northern lakes. The general direc- 

 tion of this sj'stem has been placed in charge of the Chief of the Signal 

 Corps of the Army, General Myer. The plans which have been adopted 

 for the carrying out of the proposed object have not been communicated 

 to the Institution. We shall, however, be ready to give any advice or 

 assistance in conducting the enterprise which maj' be required, and also 

 to avail ourselves of any facilities which it may afford us in the study 

 of the climatology of the northern hemisphere. 

 Eespectfully submitted. 



JOSEPH HENRY. 



January, 1870. 



