147 



It may naturally be asked why a geologist is especially 

 interested in meteorology. Climate has been the great 

 factor in all geological time. To get anything like a clear 

 conception of the evolution of the earth, one mnst have 

 some idea of the climatic conditions during the different 

 periods of its developement. It seemed most desirable 

 to occupy Mount Washington, but circumstances were such 

 that Mount Moosilauke had to be taken instead. Almost 

 every condition was unfavorable, but we gained experi- 

 ence that enabled me the following autumn to make such 

 preparation on Mount Washington, that the expedition to 

 that mountain was most successful. It was not, however, 

 without the united effort of many individuals that it was 

 a complete success. It was under obligations to very 

 many people, but especially to Dr. J. E. Hilgard, who 

 was largely instrumental in interesting the Signal Service 

 in the expedition, so that they not only furnished three 

 miles of insulated wire, but also sent a sergeant, who 

 acted as telegraph operator and observer. This led to the 

 place being made a permanent station of the Service. 



It was a generally expressed opinion that no one could 

 live upon the mountain during the winter, and it was with 

 some misgivings that the speaker ascended the mountain 

 on the 12th of Nov., 1870, for the winter, and stayed 

 alone until the rest of the party 1 came ; but what he sup- 

 posed would be a stay of a few days, was lengthened into 

 weeks. 



1 Mr. A. F. Clough came Nov. 30, and remained five weeks; came again in 

 April, also in May. 



Mr. Howard A. Kimball came Nov. 30; remained five weeks; came again in 

 May. 



Sergt. Theodore Smith came Dec. 4, and remained until May. 



Prof. C. H. Hitchcock came Dec. 21, for a day, and again for a few days, in 

 April. 



Mr. S. A. Nelson came Dec. 21, and remained until the following summer. 



