Meteorology 669 



Possessions of North America." * Another early illustration 

 of meteorological investigation may be mentioned : Soon 

 after the occurrence of an earthquake in the central part of 

 the United States on April 29, 1852, a circular was issued, 

 requesting a report of any observations which had been made 

 or could be gathered relative to that event. Numerous re- 

 plies were received, embodying facts sufficient to enable the 

 Institution to mark the point of chief intensity and trace out 

 the diverging lines along which the earth-wave passed. 2 



Bare mention must be made of the reduction of the series 

 of Temperature Tables begun in 1851 by Lorin Blodget; and 

 also of Tables of Precipitation. Ultimately the entire mass of 

 material, excepting of course that which was published under 

 the joint auspices of the Smithsonian Institution and the Pat- 

 ent Office, was given into the hands of Charles A. Schott for 

 reduction and discussion. Three volumes resulted, of which 

 the first, issued in 1872, consisted of "Tables and Results of 

 the Precipitation in Rain and Snow in the United States, 

 and at some stations in adjacent parts of North America, and 

 in Central and South America." 3 The second was issued in 

 1876 and bore the title of "Tables, Distribution, and Varia- 

 tions of the Atmospheric Temperature in the United States 

 and some adjacent parts of America." 4 A third volume, issued 

 in 1 88 1, was essentially a reprint of the first and had for its 

 title " Tables and Results of the Precipitation in Rain and 

 Snow in the United States, and at some stations in adjacent 

 parts of North America, and in Central and South America." 5 

 It is manifestly impossible at this place to attempt any discus- 

 sion of the contents of these volumes, but it is suggestive of 

 the magnitude of the undertaking to repeat from the preface 



1 " Smithsonian Report," 1850, page 19. are discussed at length on page 23 of the 



2 Ibidem, 1852, page 74. " Smithsonian Report," 1875. 



3 Ibidem, 1872, page 21. 5 See description on page 26 of " Smith- 



4 The character and extent of this work sonian Report," 1881. 



43* 



