44 



besides, a large number of those who have meteorological instruments, 

 which they occasionally consult, but do not feel sufficient interest in the 

 subject to keep a systematic journah If a grand meteorological' effort were 

 made, with a prospect of yielding important results, probably most of 

 those persons might be pressed temporarily into the service. New Eng- 

 land is pretty well manned with observers, except in the northern part, 

 where three or four more are greatly needed . Probably, if instruments could 

 b3 furnished without expense, volunteers might be found to make the obser- 

 vations. New York and Pennsylvania are fully organized ; but throughout 

 the remainder of the United States the stations are few and scattered. 

 Excluding Oregon and the Indian territory, the remaining States embrace 

 about a million and a half square miles, and at our lowest estimate would 

 require about 150 observers. We have 50' observers already in the field, 

 leaving 100 to be provided for. Row is this deficiency to be supplied ? 

 If our government would direct meteorological observations to be made at 

 the principal light-houses along out coast and the chain of the great lakes, 

 it would leave only the interior of the country to be provided for,- and if 

 instruments could be furnished without expense, volunteers might proba- 

 bly be found to take the observations at most of the remaining stations. 



To extend this system of observations further westward must be attend- 

 ed with serious difficulties. We already have registers kept at most of the 

 military posts in the Indian country; and as new posts are established, it 

 is presumed that the govenmient will direct them to be improved for obser- 

 vations. We may thus hope ere long to obtain a line of stations reaching 

 to the mouth of the Columbia river; and as settlements extend, observa- 

 tions will multiply on the other side of the Rocky mountains. On the 

 whole, then, it is believed we might occupy the whole United States front 

 its northern to its southern lx)rder, and from the Atlantic to the Indian 

 territory, beyond the Mississippi, with an army of meteorologists sufficiently 

 numerous to enable us to investigate advantageously the phenomena of our 

 great storms, provided instnnnents could be furnished gratuitously for about 

 100 stations; and, moreover, we might probably have a line of observers 

 at unequal intervals, reaching even to the Pacific ocean. The expense of 

 100 sets of meteorological instruments may be estimated at- $3,000. 



It is believed that the Smithsonian Institution might undertake to furnish 

 these instruments and organize a grand system of meteorological observa- 

 tions upon this continent, in perfect harmonj' with the views of James 

 Smithson. Mr. Smithson bequeathed his property, in trust, to this coun- 

 try, /or the increase Mid diffusion of knowledge among men. It is believed 

 that by carrying out the plan now suggested, knowledge would be in- 

 creased and diffused, and it would be that kind of knowledge which 



