THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 153 



directed Professor Espy to co-operate with the Secretary of the Insti- 

 tution. 



It is contemplated to establish three classes of observers among those 

 who are disposed to join in this enterprise. One class, without instru- 

 ments, to observe the face of the sky as to its clearness, the extent of 

 cloud, the direction and force of wind, the beginning and ending of rain, 

 snow, &c. A second class, furnished with thermometers, who, besides 

 making the observations above mentioned, will record variations of 

 temperature. The third class, furnished with full sets of instruments, 

 to observe all the elements at present deemed important in the science 

 of meteorology. It is believed that much valuable information may be 

 obtained in this way with reference to the extent, duration, and passage 

 of storms over the country, though the observer may be possessed of 

 no other apparatus than a simple wind-vane. 



With the instruments owned by private individuals, with those at 

 the several military stations, and with the supply of the deficiency by 

 the funds of the Smithsonian Institution, it is believed that observa- 

 tions can be instituted at important points over the whole United States, 

 and that, with the observations which we can procure from Mexico and 

 the British possessions of North America, data will be furnished for 

 important additions to our knowledge of meteorological phenomena. 

 As a beginning to this extended system, six sets of instruments have 

 been forwarded to the coast of Oregon and California, for the purpose 

 of establishing periodical observations on the western side of the Rocky 

 mountains. Also, a set has been forwarded to Bent's Fort, and another 

 to Santa Fe. Circulars have been prepared and will shortly be issued 

 for the purpose of ascertaining the number and locality of all those who, 

 with or without instruments, are willing to join in the enterprise. I am 

 indebted to Prof. Coffin, of Lafayette College, for a list of all persons, 

 as far as they are known, who have heretofore been accustomed to 

 make meteorological observations in North America, which will be of 

 much importance in our future investigations relative to this subject. 



As a part of the system of meteorology, it is proposed to employ, as 

 far as our funds will permit, the magnetic telegraph in the investigation 

 of atmospherical phenomena. By this means, not only notice of the 

 approach of a storm may be given to distant observers, but also atten- 

 tion may be directed to particular phenomena, which can only be 

 properly studied by the simultaneous observations of persons widely 

 separated from each other. For example, the several phases presented 

 by a thunderstorm, or by the aurora borealis, may be telegraphed to a 

 distance, and the synchronous appearances compared and recorded in 

 stations far removed from each other. Also, by the same means, a 

 single observatory, at which constant observations are made during the 

 whole twenty-four hours, may give notice to all persons along the tele- 

 graphic lines, of the occurrence of interesting meteorological phenomena, 

 and thus simultaneous observations be secured. The advantage to 

 agriculture and commerce to be derived from a knowledge of the ap 

 preach of a storm, by means of the telegraph, has been frequently re- 

 ferred to of late in the public journals. And this, we think, is a subject 

 deserving the attention of the general government. 



Under the head of researches, I may mention that several papers are 



