PKOCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS. 195 



NebrasKa Territory. Mr. Creighton will see them distributed along the line 

 at the proper places, and will renew the same from time to time with his instruc- 

 tions. You will please give him particular directions so as to secure what you 

 want. 



I would like to have you send me a few copies after they are printed, that I may 

 assist you in getting the several telegraph companies between Brownsville, in 

 Missouri, and Washington, to transmit for you free this class of business for a 

 limited time at least. 



I have written to Mr. Creighton and sent him your circular, but as many 

 copies will be required they had better be printed, as I suggest. 

 Yours, truly, 



HIRAM SIBLEY, 

 President Western Union Telegraph Company. 



The following is the circular referred to in the preceding letter, which has 

 been distributed to the telegraph offices on the line between Missouri and 

 California : 



Directions for telegraphing storms to the Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 



Violent storms usually come from the west — therefore, after a storm has com- 

 menced, send a telegram eastward, giving 



1. The time of beginning of storm. 



2. Direction of the wind. 



3. Character of the storm, whether wind, rain, snow. 



After the storm is over, send the following : 



4. Time of ending of storm. 



5. Changes of the wind. 



6. Changes of temperature. 



In accordance with this arrangement the Institution has received occasionally 

 notices of storms commencing in the Rocky mountains, and even in California. 



St. Louis, August 14, 1862. 



Dear Sir : I believe I have before informed you of Dr. Parry's botanical 

 exploration in the Colorado Territory. I have now a long series of barometrical 

 observations made by him on the different points visited by him, and among 

 them the snow peaks Mount Guyot and Pike's Peak. 



Prom a preliminary calculation I find that the latter rises above Fontaine 

 qui bouit, at its base, about 7,700 feet; the fountain itself Fremont finds 6,350, 

 and I about 6,500, so that the peak is doubtless in the neighborhood of 14,000 

 feet, "snow-capped, but easy of access." The timber reaches to within 2,200 feet 

 of the top. Mount Guyot is found to be about 13,000 feet high ; Berthoud's 

 Pass, 11,400, (all timbered.) 



These results, which I think are approximatively correct, show the great 

 elevation of the base of the mountains, (Denver, 5,300 feet; Mount Vernon, 

 6,400 feet;) the great elevation of the peaks, and the great height of the limit 

 of timber. 10,000 to 12,000 feet seems to be that limit between forty and thirty- 

 five degrees latitude in the Rocky mountains. 



Very respectfully, yours, 



GEORGE ENGELMANN. 



Professor Henry. 



