MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORIES IN AMERICA AND EUROPE. 61 



and on the summit of Pike's Peak (14,1-17 feet). Stations at Mt. Liu- 

 coin (14,200 feet) and vicinity were also examined. 



Professor William Pickering reports that " with regard to tlie 

 steadiness of seeing no appreciable advantage over Cambridge was 

 shown at any of the stations. The skies were undoubtedly somewhat 

 clearer." 



The Meteorological Observatory on Pike's Peak (14,134 feet). 



The Annals of the Harvard College Observatory, vol. xxii, 1889, 

 contain very complete series of meteorological observations during 

 fourteen and a half years (1874-1888), compiled by Professor H. A. 

 Hazen. As this was for many years the highest meteorological station 

 in the world (Leh, Ladakh, being 11,503 feet, the Sonnblick 9843 

 feet), it will be of interest to give a short summary of the different 

 tables. 



In the first place it is well to remark that the station was con- 

 tinuously occupied, without accident, for fifteen years, from Octobei", 

 1873, till September, 1888. A telegraph line from the summit to the 

 town of Colorado Springs, some ten miles distant and 8000 feet 

 lower, was maintained for a considerable portion of this time. It 

 may be added in this j^lace that a railway was completed to the sum- 

 mit in June, 1891, and that it is regularly operated for the benefit of 

 tourists during the summer. The running time from Manitou (6563 

 feet) to the summit station (14,115 feet) is an hour and a lialf, and the 

 fare is $5. The distance from Manitou by rail is 8 miles. The maxi- 

 mum speed is 8 miles, the minimum 3 miles per hour. Here we have 

 a station which can be constantly occupied, is very accessible, and 

 only 1646 feet lower than Mont Blanc. Mountain-sickness does not 

 affect observers permanently stationed thei'e. 



The mean temperature of Pike's Peak is about 19° F. The highest 

 observed temperature was 64° and the lowest — 39°. The daily range 

 of temperature is never large, tlie maximum being about 14°. 



The average velocity of the wind is high, but by no means excessive ; 

 the average hourly velocity being about 27 miles for January, 12 for 

 July. 



Severe and prolonged wind-storms are unusual, and the days when the mean 

 hourly velocity equals or exceeds 50 miles are comparatively infrequent. The 

 most remarkable wind-storms on record were those of September 28-89, 1878, 

 when the mean velocity for 24 hours was 71 miles, and December 25, 1883, when 

 the mean velocity was 70 miles per hour. The highest extreme velocity recorded 

 was 112 miles. 



The mean annual cloudiness on Pike's Peak is 40 per centum, ranging from 

 33 per centum in November to 74 per centum in July. 



