454 WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. [1865 



turbances of the atmosphere which reach them advance from 

 the ocean, while the majority of those of a similar nature 

 which visit especially the middle and eastern portions of our 

 coast, come overland from a westerly or south-westerly direc- 

 tion, and their approach may be telegraphed in some cases 

 many hours before their actual arrival. 



But the expense of the proper establishment of a system 

 of this kind can only be defrayed by the general government 

 or some organization in possession of more ample means 

 than can be applied by the Smithsonian Institution to such 

 a purpose. This will be evident from the fact which we 

 have mentioned of the cost of the establishment of a similar 

 system in India, and from a report of a committee of the two 

 houses of Parliament appointed to consider certain questions 

 relating to the meteorological department of the board of 

 trade. From this it appears that the amount expended 

 during the eleven years ending with 1865 was 45,000 pounds 

 sterling, or an average of about $20,000 a year. The same 

 committee recommend that meteorological observations at sea 

 be continued under the direction of the hydrographic office of 

 the admiralty, and an appropriation of £1,500 annually be 

 made for instruments, and £1 ,700 for discussion and publica- 

 tion of results ; making a total of £3,200. For weather statis- 

 tics on land, the annual sum of £4,250, including instruments, 

 discussion, and publications, is recommended, and for tele- 

 gram storm warnings, £3,000; making a total annual ex- 

 penditure of £7,450 for the land, and a grand annual total 

 for land and sea of £10,450, or $52,250. 



The present would appear to be a favorable time to urge 

 upon Congress the importance of making provision for 

 re-organizing all the meteorological observations of the 

 United States under one combined plan, in which the rec- 

 ords should be sent to a central depot for discussion and 

 final publication. An appropriation of $50,000 annually for 

 this purpose would tend not only to advance the material 

 interests of the country but also to increase its scientific reputa- 

 tion. It would show that although the administration of our 

 Government is the expression of the popular will, it is not 



