392 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
reported by telegraph to some competent meteorologist, whose business it.should 
be to compare the reports without delay, and make the proper deductions from 
them, and whenever a violent storm was in progress, to decide in what direction 
and with what velocity it was traveling; determine what places it would visit, 
and at what hour it would arrive; and finally transmit the announcement immedi- 
ately by telegraph to those places specially interested. Such a system could not 
be expected to attain satisfactory results without a pretty large number of well 
selected stations, and especially without the services of a competent meteorologist 
to superintend the entire system. The superintendent should be well informed 
respecting the progress which has been already made in this department of science — 
—he should have strong faith in the practicability of attaining useful results by a 
system of storm-warnings; and he should have no other engagements which 
would prevent him from giving his whole attention to this subject, especially 
whenever a violent storm was raging in any part of the United States. 
A system of meteorological observations has been for many years in progress 
under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution, and this system now covers a 
large portion of the United States. By combining a selected number of these 
observers with the observations at our military posts, the whole country might be 
covered with a net-work of observations which would be tolerably complete. I 
have great confidence that a general system of observations might be organized 
which would not only be of great value to science, but which would, in a few 
years (if not in the first year), give such increased security to commerce as would 
more than compensate for the necessary observations. 
I am, with much respect, yours truly, 
Ev1as Loomis, 
Hon. HaBert E. PAIne. 
War DEPARTMENT, 
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER, 
Washington, D. C., January 18, 1870. 
Sir: I have examined with interest the bill you send me (H. R. 602), with 
the papers accompanying it, and I have submitted your communication to the 
honorable Secretary of War. 
The subject of storm telegraphy had attracted my attention at the time of the 
heavy gales of the last fall upon the northern lakes—one of these gales was fully 
reported some hours in advance, and might have been telegraphed and signaled 
—and, by a coincidence, I had caused some maps, showing possible coast tele- 
graphic and signal stations, to be arranged for the War Department, before the 
congressional papers reached me. 
I have been much impressed with the importance of the endeavor proposed 
in the bill prepared by you, as an aid and safeguard to navigation, and as a mode 
not before availed of in this country, of utilizing, in the interests of commerce, 
the posts and force which must be maintained for military purposes in the interior 
and upon the sea coast. 
