METEOROLOGY, ETC. 



By J. Vf . Beaman. 



WASHINaTON, D. 0, 



Deab Sm : I take pleasure in i^reseDting for your consideration tlie 

 report of my meteorological labors, feeling that, altliough it is deficient 

 in many respects, it cannot but be of some interest in answering many 

 questions as to the climate and elevation of the interesting region 

 which furnished the data. As you are well aware, our irregular move- 

 ments in the field have their effect in overturning anything which looks 

 toward a perfect system of observations, such as it would be gratifying 

 to present for yoiu^ api)roval. l^evertheless, the record has been kept 

 with comparatively few omissions. It has been my aim to be as accu- 

 rate as the character of the work would admit. To this end observa- 

 tions have been made at each camj) with the mercurial barometer and 

 attached thermometer ; detached open-air thermometer 5 dry and wet 

 bulb thermometers. The direction and force of the wind 5 kind and 

 movement of cloud; the proportional amount of clear sky ; special phe- 

 nomena, and other data worthy of record, have been noted. 



Here I desire to mention, with gratitude, the assistance afforded me, 

 in the way of valuable advice, by Mr. Charles A. Schott, of the United 

 States Coast Survey ; also, valuable aid rendered by Mr. Fred. J. Huse, 

 and Mr. A. Smith, of the expedition. Let me thank you, sir, for your 

 ever generous and gentlemanly bearing toward myself. 



Trusting that the accompanying report will meet your approbation, 

 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours, 



J. W. BEAMAN. 



Dr. F. Y. Hayden. 



mTRODUCTIOK TO THE TABLES. 



INSTRUIMENTS USED IN THE METEOEOLOaiCAL WORK. 



The barometers used were Mr. James Green's siphon-barometers, 

 '^o. 1283 and No. 1363. No. 1363 had an index error of -.Or^ 5 No. 

 1283, -\-.0V'. No. 1283 proved to be worthless, on account of an imper- 

 fection in the glass tube, which allowed the mercury to escape. It was 

 refilled at Ogclen, Utah Territory, but after a few days' use broke at 

 the point of imperfection, and was set aside until we reached Fort Ellis. 

 Here, through the kindness of Colonel J. W. Barlow, United States 

 Engineers, we obtained a new tube, which was filled with mercury by 

 Mr. A. Schonborn, topographer of the expedition. It did good service 

 at Boteler's Ranch, Yellowstone Yalley, during the latter part of July 

 and nearly the whole of August. Its index error was -f .015'^ Soon 

 after starting homeward it proved unreliable, from loss of mercury and 

 admission of air. No. 1363 worked admirably, passing through the whole 

 journey from Ogden to Fort Ellis; from Fort Ellis to Yellowstone Lake, 

 and back ; and from Fort Ellis to Fort Bridger. On comparison at the 

 Medical Museum, Washington, D. C, with a standard barometer, its 



