Data collated by tlie Signal Service. 07 



14. Hourly wind travel at principal and representative sta- 

 tions, 1881-1890. 



15. Tables showing the diurnal fluctuations and pressure of 

 the atmosphere for each hour of the day and month of the year 

 at 29 representative stations. 



16. Charts Avith tables of supporting data from 654 separate ■ 

 stations, showing for Arizona. California, Colorado, Idaho, Indian 

 Territor}^, Nevada, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah and Washington 

 state the average precipitation and the greatest and least quan- 

 tity of rain for each month of the year. 



17. Climatic charts and tabular matter, with discussion rela- 

 tive to temperature, rainfall, sunshine, frost, evaporation, etc, of 

 the states of Nebraska, Oregon, Texas and Washington. 



18. Climatic charts, diagrams and tables from 651 stations 

 relative to irrigation and water-storage in Arizona, California, 

 Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. 



Many other similar climatic publications of less extent and 

 importance might be added ; but reference will only lie made to 

 the chart of rainfall and temperature for IMichigan, and several 

 charts of normal temperature for New York, both prepared at 

 the office of the Chief Signal officer. 



The annual reports of the Chief Signal officer have been 

 largely given up to climatic data, which for years were published 

 on so liberal a scale as to induce criticism from members of 

 Congress. For several years the amount of climatic data an- 

 nually published exceeded five hundred octavo pages, and for 

 the past eighteen years has averaged over three hundred octavo 

 pages. 



The climatic work of the Signal service of the army can be 

 sunnnarized by the general statement (which can be verified by 

 any one who wishes) that the climatic characteristics of the 

 United States have been determined and are better known than 

 those of any other equal area on the surface of the earth. 



The forecasting of weather was not the only duty im2:)osed liy 

 law on the ofiice. The construction, maintenance and opera- 

 tion of about 5,000 miles of telegraph lines on the Indian and 

 Mexican frontiers and along the uninhabited coasts of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the performance of military signal- 

 ing duty, the gauging of the principal rivers of the country and 



