Meteorology 675 



ever, much diminished in efficiency during the war, since from 

 the Southern States no records were received, and many of 

 the observers at the North were called to abandon such pur- 

 suits for military service in the field. The efforts of the in- 

 stitution in this line have been directed to supplementing and 

 harmonizing all the other systems, preparing and distributing 

 blank forms and instructions, calculating and publishing ex- 

 tensive tables for the reduction of observations, introducing 

 standard instruments, and collecting all public documents, 

 printed matter, and manuscript records bearing on the mete- 

 orology of the American continent, submitting these materials 

 to scientific discussion and publishing the results. In these 

 labors the Institution has been in continued harmonious coop- 

 eration with all the other efforts made in this country to ad- 

 vance meteorology, except those formerly conducted by the 

 Navy Department under Lieutenant Maury." 1 



The reestablishment of the meteorological observations in- 

 terrupted by the civil war was somewhat impeded by the fire 

 that occurred in 1865 destroying very many of the records and 

 instruments. This catastrophe naturally diverted funds from 

 the meteorological work owing to the expenses incurred for 

 repairs, so that beyond the gradual restoration of the ser- 

 vice nothing worthy of note occurred subsequent to 1866. 

 It may even be mentioned that during 1867 the attempt 

 made by the Institution to resume by the cooperation of 

 the telegraph lines the system of telegraphic indications of 

 the weather, which was interrupted by the war, was unsuc- 

 cessful. "Indeed," says Henry, "it can scarcely be expected 

 that without some remuneration to the companies, the use 

 of the telegraphic wires and the time of the operators should 

 be given for the purpose." 2 



Meanwhile agitation was being created in favor of " a me- 



1 It is proper to say that the quotation those made at the same time on land," "Smith- 

 continues : " These were confined exclu- sonian Report," 1865, page 52. 

 sively to the sea, and had no reference to 2 " Smithsonian Report," 1867, page 28. 



