INTRODUCTION. 
67 
a truly continental range, within the narrow limits of one State. Indeed, 
if the length of the State were north and south , instead of -east and west, 
stretching from South Corolina to New York, the variety ot its climates 
would not be greater. 
The influence of climate on human comfort, industries, progress, civil- 
ization is all-pervading and despotic. The climate of North Carolina is 
one of the most important factors of her present and prospective condition 
and history. It is therefore worthy of careful inve tigation and discussion 
in any attempt to study or to set forth the resources, advantages and 
capabilities of the State. And hence a system of meteorological observa- 
tions was organized in 1871, with a view to the elimination of the climatic 
peeuliarties of all the different sections. Thirty stations were selected so 
as to cover the entire territory, and to give at least one observatory to 
every geographical, or topographical subdivision, and instruments and 
blanks were furnished and instruction's given, (partly through the aid of 
the Smithsonian Institution in the first instance). This scheme contem- 
plated only observations of the temperature , rainfall, clouds and vnnds , 
and omitted altogether two of the most important climatarchie elements, 
moisture and barometic pressure, mainly for want of means to furnish the 
necessary instruments, but partly also for want of observers of sufficient 
leisure, or skill, or interest. For appeal was necessarily made to the pub- 
lic spirit of individual observers, there being no remuneration offered. 
Ot some thirty stations, reports for one year and upwards have been 
received from 24, the average number reporting at one time being 12 to 
15. It will be observed that several considerable tracts of the State are 
unrepresented, as for instance the region between Wilmington and Char- 
lotte and Greensboro’, and that north of Greensboro’ and Statesville and 
west of Oxford, and especially the large and well marked elimatographic 
subdivision between the Catawba River, the Fine Ridge and the southern 
border. The plateau of the upper French Broad, (Henderson and Tran- 
slvania counties), is also well worthy of special observations, as well as 
that of Haywood county, and of Yancey ; and again in the extreme east, 
the whole peninsula between the two great sounds is one of the most pe- 
culiar tracts of country to be found in a dozen states, and peculiar too in 
many of those points especially connected with and determinative of one 
or more of the elements of climate ; yet in these different sections it has 
not been practicable to find observers, although they have been sought 
very diligently and instruments, &c. sent to parties supposed to be suffi- 
ciently interested and self-denying; — and in a few cases reports have 
been received for one or several months. It is earnestly hoped that a 
better appreciation of the value of such observations to the whole State 
