of thunder-storms occurred at the summit of Pike's Peak from the 14th 

 to the 25th, during which the electrical effect was so intense as to inter- 

 rupt telegraphic communication with that station. The observer reports 

 that sharp peculiar sounds were emitted from all ])ointed objects, and 

 that painful sensations were experienced in the hands and face. 



" A brilliant display of ball-lightning was observed at Denver July 

 21, the ball exploding in full view and the fragments re-exploding as they 

 reached the earth. This phenomenon was also observed at Keokuk, 

 Iowa, on the 16th. 



'•Ground-currents interfered with the working of the telegraph-line 

 at Sandy Hook on the 4th, 11th, and 16th." (Page 272, Monthly Weather 

 Review, report for July, 1874.) 



" In addition to thunderstorms spoken of under previous headings, 

 there were strong ground-currents on the telegraph-line connecting Col- 

 orado Springs with the summit of Pike's Peak, Colo., on the evening 

 of the 1st. Frequent lightning was observed on the same line during 

 the month. On the 3d heavy snow accompanied a heavy thunder-storm 

 on Pike's Peak, from which station thunder-storms are reported as hav- 

 ing occurred almost daily. Thunder or lightning, or both, were more 

 frequent in the Southern and Western States, especially the latter, than 

 in other stations." (Page 276, Monthly Weather Review, report for 

 August, 1874.) 



ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY. 



" Thunder-storms are reported as having occurred mostly in the South- 

 ern States and during the passage of general storms, viz : 



" On the 7th in Georgia and Florida ; on the 21st in Georgia, North 

 Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Texas ; on the 22d in Georgia, 

 Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas ; on the 24th in Alabama, 

 Mississippi, Louisiana, and North Carolina; on the 27th in Louisiana, 

 Indian Territory, and Texas ; on the 29th in Georgia and Alabama." 



The following extract is made from the observer's report at Santa Fe, 

 New Mexico : 



"January 15, extraordinary electrical storm on (telegraph) line; 

 noticed first at 12 m., and lasted until 3 p. m. The current was so strong 

 the line could not be worked. The key was left open, and most of the 

 line was surrounded by a ring of fire. It was during the passage of low 

 barometer that this happened." (Page 301, Monthly Weather Review 

 for January, 1875.) * 



* By au examination ot the appended papers it will be noticed that the military tele- 

 graph-line extending from Denver to Santa F6 aud thence southward to Silver City 

 was disturbed by atmospheric electricity from July 18 to December 31, 1876— deducting 

 Sundays, when no continuous observations were made— 10 times on the northern line, 

 14 on the southeru line, and 2'^ on both lines out of Santa F6 ; 46 days of disturbance 

 out of 147 days' observations. No record w?s made of disturbances anterior to July 

 18, 1876. 



In the year the wind traveled at a rate amounting to 67,996 miles, being southwest 

 over one half the time aud northeast or north about one-fourth the time. One hundred 



