PEOCEEDINGS OF THE EEGENTS. 81 



Nebraska Territory. Mr. Creigliton ■svill 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. Creigliton 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 IVeste?-)! Union Telcgrciph Company. 



The following is th.e 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. Eirection 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 v/ith this arrangement the Institution has received occasionally 

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



St. Louis, August 14, 1S62. 



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 

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



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

 qui bouit, at its base, about 7,700 feet; the fountain itself Fnmont finds G,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; ]\Iount 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 hinit between forty and thirty- 

 five degrees latitude in the llocky mountains. 



Very respectfully, yours, 



GEORGE ENGELMANK 



Professor Henry. 



6 s 



