The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-12

From our experience thus far, convinced that CIR
cumscrbed as class Of memoirs accepted by the IN
stitution we shall have no of materials TO fill at
least quarto volume year There has been IN our
country within the last few years rema kabe increase
in the attention given original research, not only IN
science but in every branch OF knowelg e
cepble OF increase And this is evnced by the character
and variety the papers which have been presented for
publication The wide difference between the increase
of knowledge and its diffusion is beginning TO be
and appreciated and the lime is not far distant when
shall be distinguished for additions 10 science
for its diffusion and application The revolutions OF Eu
rope are not only sending shores the choicest spec
mems of art, hut also of reputation and skill in sci
entifc investigation Besides this, the present state OF
France attended with such interruption OF the ord
nary means Of scientific publication, that the manuscript
volumes natural history OF one OF the most ds'in-
guished professors of the Jarln DIES Planes offered
to for publication in the Smithsonian Contributions Tor
remuneration few copies for distribution among
friends Were the institution fully in OPERATION should
not hesitate in accordance with the liberay which
should characterize establishment founded on The be-
quest of foreigner to recommend the adoption OF these
memoirs for publication atthe expense OF the institution
and perhaps we might distribute them through sew
era OF volumes and finish the publication oil them IN
the OF few years.
Original researches.
The second part of the plan consists in ns,itnng orr
ginal researches the results of which to he published
with the other memoirs in the volumes OF the Smllhso
man Contributions Under this head may be first
toned the publication of the tables ordered al the last
meeting of the board, for facilitating the calculation OF
the time oil appearance OF OCCUPATIONS OF the hxed stars
by the moon The object OF these tables to as st IN the
accurate determination Of the longitude OF important
places on the continent of North America and their import
ance has been attested by the Recommendation OF some
of the most distinguished astronomers OF this county
The accurate establishment of the Longitude of any pae
renders it landmark to- the surveyor the geosrapher
and the astronomer and furnishes most important ee-
ment determining its relative position on the map OF
the country The observation of OSCILLATIONS affords one
OF the most ready 81 solving 'ns 9'' ,h
Dense and under the direction oil the institution and were
sent all persons known to be interested IN practical as
tronomy, with a request that the observations which
might be made in connection with them might be sent TO
the institution for computation, published IN some &C.
cessibe journal These tables have been well received
by astronomers that with the concurrence OF the Execu-
tive Committee have venured to order the cOmputa-
ton of set OF the same kind more extensive scale
or the year 1910 Copies of these will be sent to United
will be distributed among all the other observers in this
country They will be found OF much practical import
ance the corps engaged BY the general government in
establishing the boundary lines OF our possessions
Ii is hoped that the remuneration allowed for the labor
of computing these tables will not be considered exava
CANT when is mentioned that has occupied the whole
time OF Mr. Downes for nearly months, al the rate OF
eight hours day.
With the concurrence of the Executive Committee |
have also published supplements of the planet Nep
tune Or in other words table indicating its position in
the heavens during each day of the present year, by
which those interested in astronomy enabled readily
to find the place OF the planet in the heavens or the
direction which the telescope must be pointed order
to observe it, Copies OF this have been sent to all the
principal astronomers in the world. and it has received
the h aS Sy BY MI
count OF which forms of the papers OF the second
volume of the Contributions 1t is The first accurate
ephemers which has appeared OF this newly dis.
covered member OF our solar sysem
An appropriation OF one thousand dollars was made at
the last meeting of the board for the commencement Of a
series OF meteorolog cal observations. particularly with
reference 10 the phenomena of American storms Ac-
cordng TO the estimate OF Prof Looms appended to my
last report three thousand dollars will be required for the
purpose OF reducing this part of or plan practice 1t
is hoped that one thousand dollars in addition will be
appropriated this year, and equal sum the next, so
that at the end of that time. we shall be prepared for
full operation At the last session oil Congress ap
preparation made for meteorology under the direction
of the Secretary of the Navy and in order that the OBJ
sevatons thus established may not interfere with those
undertaken by the Smithsonian Institution, that officer
has directed Prof Espy to operate with the Secretary
OF the Institution
It is contemplated to establish three classes. of obse
among those who disposed to join this
prise. One class. without Instruments to observe the
face of the sky to its cearness, the extent of cloud,
ing of rain, snow, &c second class, furnished with
thermometers who, besides making the observations
above mentioned will record VACATIONS OF temperature
The third class furnished with fhi sets of Instruments
to observe all the elements at present deemed important
the science OF meteoroo!y II is believed that much
valuable information may be obtained in tais way with
reference TO the extent duraion and passage of
the country though the observer may be possessed
of no other apparatus than 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, is believed thai observations be ns
tuted at important points the whole United States
and that with the observations which we can procure
from Mexico and the British possessions OF North Amer
lea, data will be furnished Tor import additions to
our knowledge OF meteorological phenomena. As be-
ginning to this extended SYSTEM SIX sets of instruments
have been forwarded to the OF Oregon AMI Calfor
MIA, for the purpose of establishing periodical pbserva
tons on the western side of the Rocky mountains Also
set has been forwarded to Ba2fs Fort, and another
TO Santa Fe. Circulars have been prepared and will
shortly be issued for the purpose of ascerang the num-
Der and locality OF all those who with without instru
menis are willing TO join in the enterprise ndebt-
ell to Professor Coffin, of Lafayette College, for list of
all persons, far they known who have hereto
fore been accustomed TO make meteorological observa-
tons in North America, which will be of much import
ance in our future Investigations relative this subject
As part OF the system of meteoroogy it is proposed
to employ as far funds will permit the magnetic
telegraph IN the investigation of atmospherca phe-
nonena by this means not only the notice OF the APP
proach OF storm may be given distant observers but
also the attention mag be directed particular phenome-
ma, which can only be properly studied BY the simua.
neous observations OF persons widely separated from each
other: For example, the several phases presented by
thunder storm, by the boreals may be tee.
graphed TO distance and the synchronous appearances
compared and recorded stations far removed from each
other Also. by the means. a single observatory
at which constant observations made during the whole
graphic lines, OF the OF interesting meteoro-
logical phenomena, and thus simultaneous observations
be secured The advantage agriculture and commerce
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