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be indispensable to have stations at very short distances from each other; 

 but in winter storms this is less important. I consider it, however, desira- 

 ble to have stations at intervals of fifty miles from each dtlier, and such 

 might probably be obtained in the more thickly settled parts of the United 

 States. In other parts of the country this would be impracticable; but I 

 would strive to obtain at least one station for every hundred miles square. 

 At this rate we should need about three hundred observers for the United 

 States. It is not doubted that this number might be obtained; indeed, we 

 have well nigh this number already, but, unfortunately, they are very une- 

 qually scattered over the country. 



3. What materials have we to depend upon, and what is wanting to 

 complete the plan of one observer to every hundred miles square? 



We have the government observations at the military posts, now 57 in 

 number. We have observations from 41 academies in the State of New 

 York, and 25 stations in Pennsylvania. Then we have borometric obser- 

 vations from about 40 other individuals scattered promiscuously over the 

 country; and thermometric observations from about 20 others. There is, 

 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 journal. 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 maimed with observers, except in the northern part, 

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

 be 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 (ew 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. AVe have 50 observers already in the field, 

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

 If oiu' government would direct meteorological observations to be made at 

 the principal light-houses along our 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 government 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 from 

 its northern to its southern border, and from the Atlantic to the Indian 

 territory, beyond the Mississippi, with an army of meteorologists sulficie.ntly 

 numerous to enable us to investigate advantageously the phenomena of our 

 great storms, provided instruments 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 exjiense of 

 100 sets of meteorological instruments may be estimated at ;;^3,000. 



It is believed that the Smithsonian Institution might undertake lo furnish 



