EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 33 



sonian Institution and the Patent Office in establisliing systems of sta- 

 tions for observations furnished with standard instruments. Though 

 this committee, consisting of Major Lachlan, Dr. Hough, Professor 

 Coffin, and myself, have not had an opportunity of fully discussing 

 the several points to he recommended, yet it is thought they will 

 adopt the following suggestions, which have been considered and ap- 

 proved by a majority of the members : 



1. That stations for observation be established not over sixty miles 

 apart. 



2. That at each station the pressure, temperature, and humidity of 

 the air, the direction and velocity of the winds, (both upper and lower 

 currents,) and the kind and amount of cloudiness be observed three 

 times a day — at 7 o'clock a. m., 2 p. m., and 9 p. m. ; also the date 

 of the commencement and termination of each rain or snow, with the 

 amount of water that falls, and any other atmospheric phenomena that 

 the observer may deem of interest to note and record. 



3. That each station be furnished with a barometer having a zero 

 adjustment, a pair of thermometers carefully compared with each 

 other throughout their entire range, and a rain-gage. 



4. That a superintendent be appointed in each State, who shall 

 select the stations and instruments, secure reliable observers, keep 

 himself informed as to the condition of the instruments and observa- 

 tions, and report annually to the legislature of the State, and also to 

 the Smithsonian Institution. 



5. That the superintendent be furnished with standard instruments 

 with which the others may be compared when necessary. 



6. That these standard instruments be themselves compared with 

 some common standard. 



*r. That each observer publish his observations monthly in some 

 neighboring newspaper, as an item of local interest, and have, per- 

 haps, five hundred extra slips of the same printed for exchange with 

 other observers ; these slips to be sent to the Smithsonian Institution 

 for distribution. 



8. That monthly and annual abstracts of these observations be 

 published in a uniform style throughout the United States, and the 

 continent if possible; andthat,for the sake of securing such uniformity 

 as well as reducing the cost, they be prepared and published by the 

 Smithsonian Institution, each State contributing a sum sufficient to 

 defray the expense of its own observations ; and the whole being com- 

 bined in a single volume. 

 3 



