1847. j Meteorological Observutions. 167 



season has been dry, compared with last year. The amount of 

 rain is less by about eight inches. It will be seen that February, 

 March, April, and June, were all dry months. May about an 

 average. So that, although July was rather a wet month, yet the 

 moisture was mostly absorbed by the surface, and did little to- 

 wards raising the springs. Towards the close of summer, wells 

 began to fail ; and before the end of September, this was true with 

 us, to an extent almost unexampled. Probably the effect was 

 due, in part at least, to the small amount of moisture which fell, 

 in the late winter, and early spring months. Though counting 

 from the 20th of August to the 20th of September, the amount 

 of rain was only 0.669, including one or two weeks of excessive- 

 ly hot weather in September. The great scarcity of water, this 

 season, has led our citizens to enquire for a permanent supply 

 from the hills; of which, as you are aware, we have many of no 

 mean altitude around us. 



Having been appointed, among others, to examine several 

 springs, I took the opportunity to ascertain the temperature of 

 them. As facts of this kind have some meteorological interest, 

 I will give the temperature of a few of our largest springs, as 

 then ascertained — September 21st. 



Temperature. 

 A large spring at the base of Saddle Mountain, 47° 

 Do. of another, " ' " 45 



Another on Stone Hill, .... 48 



Of my well, 48.5 



You are aware that several springs in this valley are thermal. 

 I shall endeavor this season to excite a little zeal among the mem- 

 bers of my class, on the subject of experimenting upon these 

 points. And unless something unfavorable to the Taconic system 

 should appear, shall ask the privilege of incorporating any facts 

 we may arrive at, in my next annual report upon the amount of 

 rain. 



Williams College, Feb. 22, 1847. 



Total, .... 1,792 



