386 
GEORGE EDWARD CURTIS. 
science, “The Effect of Wind Currents on Rainfall,” which 
appeared as one of the series of Signal Service Notes of the 
Weather Bureau. Mr. Curtis rendered valuable assistance in 
the preparation of certain sections of Professor Abbe’s “Trea¬ 
tise on Meteorological Apparatus and Methods,” which formed 
part 2 of the Annual Report of the Chief Signal Officer for 
1887. Probably the best work which he did while connected 
with the Weather Bureau is contained in this treatise and 
in papers embodying studies made in connection with the 
preparation of this report. 
In September of 1887 Mr. Curtis was assigned to duty at 
Topeka in connection with the work of the Kansas State 
Weather Service; he remained there only a few weeks, how¬ 
ever, before severing his connection with the Weather Bureau 
to become associated with Washburn College, in Topeka, as 
assistant professor of mathematics. This position he held 
until December of 1890, when he received an appointment 
in the United States Geological Survey. Under the direction 
of Captain Dutton he took up the meteorological problems 
connected with the irrigation survey of the Western States 
and Territories. His duties in the survey enabled him to 
live an outdoor life in the high and dry plateau regions of 
the West—a matter of vital importance to him, as symptoms 
of tuberculosis were already apparent. Mr. Curtis remained 
in the West until June, 1890, and then returned to Wash¬ 
ington to work up the results of his observations. In August 
the work of the irrigation survey came to an end, and Mr. 
Curtis accepted a position in the Smithsonian Institution. 
Here he was chiefly engaged upon the revision of the Smith¬ 
sonian meteorological tables. He also assisted Professor 
Langley in the preparation of his memoir on “ Experiments 
in Aerodynamics,” in the preface of which the author refers 
to Mr. Curtis as giving most efficient aid in the final computa¬ 
tions and reductions. 
In the summer of 1890 Congress authorized the expendi¬ 
ture of a large sum of money for carrying on experiments 
in the artificial production of rain. These experiments were 
