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these records would appear to have little value, but the constantly- 

 growing interest throughout the country in this popular branch of 

 science at once suggests the importance of the subject. 



Successful agriculture ana other industries depend largely upon 

 the conditions of the atmosphere and temperature. Meteorology 

 alone affords us an intelligent comprehension of these phenomena. 

 Data, compiled from its observations, are regarded by the scientific 

 as among the most valuable contributions to the statistics of the 

 country. Progress in the science is to be mainly anticipated from 

 study at the office established for that purpose at Washington, of 

 accurate records of observations made simultaneously at a very 

 large number of stations in all parts of the country. 



The situation of the park, and the character of its organization, 

 make it by far the best station for the purpose in this vicinity. The 

 apparatus at present in use is very simple and incomplete. If the 

 Commission should think proper to appropriate five hundred dollars 

 to its enlargement and improvement, the observations which might 

 be taken, without any additional current expense, would be of much 

 higher value. 



A faithful and intelligent attention to duty has characterized the 

 services of the several assistants employed in my department. 



Respectfully submitted, 



JOHN Y. CULYER, 



Assistant Engineer in Charge. 



