Bulletin of the Philosophical Society of Washington (1-2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874. Excerpt: ... ment of observation had been advanced by Henry to that position, in which a larger annual outlay than the entire income of the Institution was really required to give just efficiency to the system. In his Report for 1865, he remarked: The present would appear to be a favorable time to urge upon Congress the importance of making provision for the reorganizing all the meteorological observations of the United States under one combined plan, in which the records should be sent to a central depot for reduction, discussion, and final publication. An appropriation of 50,000 dollars annually for this purpose would tend not only to advance the material interest of the country, but also to increase its reputation.... It is scarcely necessary at this day to dwell on the advantages which result from such systems of combined observations as those which the principal governments of Europe have established, and are now constantly extending.'. Five years later, in support of the proposition that the subject from its magnitude now appealed to the liberality of the nation, he briefly recapitulated the work accomplished by the limited means of the Institution. The Smithsonian meteorological system was commenced in 1849, and has continued in operation until the present time.... It has done good service to the cause of meteorology; 1st in inaugurating the system which has been in operation upwards of twenty years: 2nd in the introduction of improved instruments after discussion and experiments: 3rd in preparing and publishing at its expense an extensive series of meteorological tables: 4th in reducing and discussing the meteorological material which could be obtained from all the records from the first settlement of the country till within a few years: 5th in being the fir...