45 



would contribute to the comfort and happiness of society^ as much a& 

 perhaps any other which can be named. 



4. Specific plan of operations proposed. 



The following is proposed for the consideration of the Regents of the* 

 Smithsonian Institution, as the outline of a grand meteorological cam- 

 paign. 



Let a meteorological department of the institution be organized, under 

 the direction of the Secretary, with a suitable assistant. Let a united effort 

 be made to secure for a limited period, and to the greatest possible extent , 

 the cooperation of the general government, the several State governments ^ 

 scientific societies, and the friends of science throughout the country. Let 

 the general government be requested to give the greatest possible exten- 

 sion to their system of observations at the military posts, and to authorize 

 similar observations to be made at certain lighthouses, so far as may be 

 necessary to complete a line of stations at intervals of 100 miles along the 

 whole extent of our coast, and the chain of the northern lakes. Let the 

 regents of the University of the State of New York be requested to reor- 

 ganize the system of observations in that State, by furnishing barometers 

 to about 20 of their academies, and directing the observations to be report- 

 ed regularly to Washington. Let the committee having charge of the 

 observations in Permsylvania be requested to adopt the same plan of ob- 

 servations which shall be agreed upon for the other States, and report regu- 

 larly to Washington. Let application te made to the legislatures of each 

 of the other States, inviting them to co-operate in this noble scheme^ 

 by emulating the examples of New York and Pennsylvania. Let the 

 scientific societies throughout the United States be appealed to, to assist in 

 organizing an efficient corps of observers, each in its appropriate sphere; 

 and let individual observers throughout the country be requested to unite 

 their efforts in one uniform and systematic plan of operations. Let them 

 be requested to report their equipment of instruments, and state whether 

 they will undertake to provide whatever may be wanting, at their own ex- 

 pense. I*et then the entke country be divided into sections not exceed- 

 ing 100 miles square; and in each section not already provided for, let au 

 observer be sought out, who shall volunteer to make the observations if 

 instruments are furnished him. Let then the Smithsonian Institution 

 assume the burden of furnishing the necessary instruments to those who 

 are unable to do it themselves. It is estimated that the sura required for 

 this purpose would not exceed three thousand dollars. Let a form of ob- 

 servations be provided, and instructions to all the observers, who shall re- 

 port at least quarterly to the Secretary at Washington. Let it be the duty 

 of the meteorologist to take charge of the observations, to discuss and ana- 

 lyze them, and endeavor to deduce from them the laws of storms. Let 



