THE KANSAS WEATHER SERVICE. 183 
any other work, if of sufficient power, could charge the storage battery without 
interrupting its regular work, and thus supply the light needed at a minimum cost 
for special machinery and skilled supervision. 
In private houses where the running of a large engine with extreme smooth- 
ness and absolute certainty during the hours when light is needed, would be out 
of the question, a small engine operated at convenient intervals, and with no need 
of regularity or of fixed hours, would accomplish all that was required if a storage 
battery was employed with it. 
I am informed that these storage batteries have been successfully applied to 
the running of street cars, and in view of the fact that they will contain almost 
2,000,000 foot-pounds of energy for each eighty pounds of dead weight, I should 
consider the prospect in this direction most encouraging. 
In short it seems to me that there is manifestly a wide field for the profitable 
employment of this greatly improved form of the electric storage battery. — Van 
JVostrand's Magazine. 
METEOROLOGY. 
REPORT FROM OBSERVATIONS TAKEN AT CENTRAL STATION, 
WASHBURN COLLEGE, TOPEKA, KANSAS. 
BY PROF. J. T. LOVEWELL, DIRECTOR. 
The large rainfall which characterized the second decade of May has been 
followed by heavy precipitation till the present date — June 20th. 
There have been no specially severe storms at this station and the same is 
generally true through the State, and the damage from wind and floods have 
been less than usual this year in Kansas. 
Winter grains are fast approaching the harvest and are in good order so far. 
Likewise at present date the corn is coming forward rapidly, with promise of a 
large crop. These facts are so intimately connected with meteorology that they 
do not appear out of place in this record. 
The prevailing winds have been south, and no very warm weather occurred 
till the middle of June. 
The highest baroinetric pressure was Tune 3d, 29.140, reduced 30.096; the 
lowest barometric pressure was June nth 28.680, reduced 29.524. 
The highest temperature 92°, June 20th; the lowest temperature 38°, May 
2ISt. 
Slight frosts occurred May 21st and 22d. 
