38 



every month in the year, and reported to some central point, or the original 

 observations sent in and the reduction made at the central point. 



Observations have already been taken in 60, different places in this state, 

 by 92 observers, covering an aggregate of 350 years ; the records of which 

 ■have been preserved, and most of these might still be procured and their re- 

 sults ■worked out for the benefit of the people, if the means could be provid- 

 ed. It seems a pity to lose all the benefit of the labors of these observers 

 for want of so small a sum ; especially as we know how many very important 

 facts in regard to the specialities of our climate would thus be made known. 



Most of these observations are beyond our reach, and all are at present in 

 such condition, that the time and expense necessary to reduce them to prac- 

 tical use, have put it out of our power to make proper deductions from them. 

 Therefore we are obliged to omit some things which these would show, with- 

 out that particularity which we would chpose to have made, if they had been 

 reduced: 



The annual isotherm of 46 degrees of temperature, passes nearly east and 

 west through Portage City and Concord, New Hampshire, making but slight 

 deflections from a straight line, on account of the influence of the great 

 lakes and the mountains of New York,, Vermont and New Hampshire. 



The isotherm of 45 degrees, during the spring months, enters the conti- 

 nent atiBoston, passes Albany along the south shore of Lake Ontario, through 

 Detroit, around the south end of Lake Michigan, through Portage Gity, and 

 thence by St. Paul to the valley of the Saskatchawan river. This line is 

 spread out some seventy miles wide, as it passes over New York, and is very 

 crooked,, showing in a remarkable degree the affect of high lands and the 

 cool lakes. On the west of us it passes twice above the BOth parallel of lati- 

 tude, and once, in NewMexioo, it goes below the para^el of 36^^ ; an isotherm, 

 but one degree colder, than this last,, passes nearly parallel with it, and within 

 about twenty-five miles distance, until it reaches a point north of Portage 

 City, whence it runs near Berlin, Oshkosh and Green Bay, into Lake Michi- 

 gan. 



The.isotherm-af 10 degrees in summer, passes through Wisconsin in about 

 the, same direction as that of the spring line of 45 degrees, except running 

 farther east in Wisconsin, but it reaches the south end of Lake Michigan 

 from, Harrisbttrg and Pittsburg,, in Pennsylvau'a, and near the line of the 

 Fort Wayiie railroad. 



The isoth^fm of 48 degrees in the fall, must be drawn from Copper Harbor, 

 on Lake Superior, through Green Bay and Fond dn Lac, thence west by 

 Portage City to the Mississippi river. 



Tlie-isotherm of 20 degrees in winter runs by about the same line as the 

 last, hut makes its great bend near Madison, and thence bears a little south 

 of west 5 while a line but a little warmer passes by the south end of Lake 

 MioWgan. The line of 20 degrees from the north end of Lake Huron, runs 



