REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29 



iDg of it having been delayed by that of documents of more im- 

 mediate importance. It is expected, however, that it will be finished 

 during the year 18G3. 



The daily telegraphic bulletin of the state of the weather, which 

 was entirely discontinued for some time on account of the demands of 

 public business, has been partially resumed, and we are indebted to 

 the courtesy of Mr. Anson Stager for occasional despatches since 

 the early part of December last, from stations in the Rocky moun- 

 tains, and even from points as far west as California. These telegrams, 

 however are not sufficient to enable us to predict, with much proba- 

 bility, the changes of weather, without the additional information from 

 the south and southwest. The telegraphic bulletin giving the daily 

 condition of the weather at various important positions on the con- 

 tinent of Europe continues to be lithographed by the Imperial Ob- 

 servatory at Paris, and is sent to the Institution by every steamer. 



In May last a circular was distributed asking for information on 

 the subject of tornadoes, the principal design of which is to direct 

 attention to a full and definite system of observations, so that on the 

 recurrence of tornadoes precise and uniform reports may be obtained 

 as to all the features of the phenomenon. In addition to the special 

 replies to the circular, a number of general answers have been re- 

 ceived, which are of interest in helping to define the regions of our 

 country where these destructive visitants frequently appear, and 

 those in which they are happily almost unknown. From Steuben, 

 Maine, Mr. J. D. Parker writes: "There was never a tornado seen 

 hereabouts by any one, so far as I can learn;" and Mr. R. II, Gar- 

 diner, at Gardiner, in the same State, says: " Tornadoes are of very 

 rare occurence in this part of the country. I have no knowledge of 

 any within the last fifty years." From Yermont, Mr. Hiram A. 

 Cutting, of Lunenburg, informs us that "there never was but one 

 tornado, in this section, in my remembrance, and that was at Victory, 

 about twenty miles northwest of this place, in the summer of 1842." 

 Mr. Levi Packard, residing in the State of New York, at Spencertown, 

 Columbia county, between the Hudson river and Massachusetts, tells 

 us there are no tornadoes in that tract of countr}-. On the other hand, 

 we are informed that over the swampy region of the great bend of the 

 Mississippi tornadoes are very frequent, and the paths of many of them 

 are marked upon the ground for miles by prostrate trees and other 

 indications of a violent disturbance of the atmosphere. 



