Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-02-14

T. S Naval oBsEHYAroRY AND llYpRoa l. OgFIcE,
HashtHgfoH. February .. fs57

~ fahthYfoH, iChtuafy - 1871.
~iR. Letters HunsNrr to the circular issued on the
sd ufmo from this oftc have already been recry-
cd FROM the States along the Atlantic seaboard.-
They contain statistics enough concerning the great
sudH storm Of January 1851 10 justify prclimina-
J. report Of it, march this part Of the country
The hour when it commenced and the hour when
it ccnsed constituted very notable lealnres by
which the march Of this storm could be traced The
precise moment Of the commencement however, was
not very well marked for that was light fall Of
snow. which afiet an hour or two, increased into
very heavy full Hence observers at the same place
are sometimes found differing an hour in their
reports 10 the commencement of the snow storm
There has not yet been time receive full returns
from the States south of Virginia SO far, however
as returns have been received the fall Of snow with
u furious north wind, appears to have commenced ST.
simultaneously III virginia and North Carolina. It
then marched against the wind through Virginia into
the New England States. 1t did not reach as FAR as
Hamilton Canada Que hand, but the other il is
known 10 have extended into Nova Scotia, if not
further.
From BERTHE county North Carolina 10 Washing
ton the course of the storm was due north and the
time three or four hours. From Washington to New
York it was about fourteen hours on the march with
furious gne right in its teeth thence 10 Boston it
flew Al railway speed, making the distance in six
hours and thence it arriy ed nt Portland Maine ut
p. NJ. ofthe 18th thus making its march in tho wiuds
eye from North Carolina to Maine in about twenty
six hours.
The e1ld the wind and the fall Of snow, all Of
which were marked 10y violence appear each to have
had las own rate ofInaych.
How far this storm may have been felt ont at sea
Is not yet known or there has not been time to re-
cciye reports from the vessels that cooperating
with us in these Investigations 1t is known, how
ever, that the storm extended far Noya Scotia.
The fury Of This storm has been unequalled for
many Years. Never since the establishment Of rail
road5 hathere been snch an interruption of travel or
h,ndraneo OF mals. it illustrates in very striking
manner the necessity--if we wish thoroughly to in
rcsugatc the laws which govern the movements of
the great arid ocean on which welive-of extending
our meteorological researches from the to the
land What though this storm may have had its
origin on the land, II caused many and drcadful
shpwreeks along the shore and disasters at sea.
The appliances which, in the progress of the age,
have been placed within the reach OF men of science
would, had the power of using them been possessed
by these men, have enabled them To give timely warn.
ing ufthe approach Of the storm to many whose liz cs
such warning would have saved.
lfthe system Of daily weather reports through the
telegraph which you have recommended for the OBJ
srlyati ~, had been established, New urk and our
shipping ports might have had from eighteen to
iwcnty-iour hours warning in advance Of this storm,
the industrial pursuits of the country aud the con
Ncuicnce Of the public, as well rs the shipping in
tctcsts might nil have had the benefit OF such fore
knowledge for the telegraph the press aud the mails
can "Trip the Wind, and spread the OF its com
ing t,stcr than IT run,
Are You aware that at this season Of the year the
average number OF shipwrecks is about one Amcri-
can vessel orerery eight hours, aud that the total
value OF the losses at for the month of january is
s't down at something like four millions Of dollars
How many OF these losses would have been spared
the country could few hours warning have been
given OF this storm alone, to say nothing Of others
lt# Government has wisely sought IL mitigate the
~ 80 ter OF shipwrerk aud money hts been humane
" appropriated or the purpose; but, notMiih tiaud-
n. lbese eloris great suffering has been encounter
cI .. IL the else ol the ship New lork last Dec m
hr'. uter The crew and PIT -cngers had been rescued
from lhr wreck
Iitr the Long Island aud Jersey shores curtain
cI waas mIe5 by auauow slip of land separated
from thc nam ny sound or strip of water from one
to ar,e@l miles in breadth. There are very few
huuscs uu this strip of land aud 1t sametlcs hap
pea. ti shi1s are driven ashore, rs in the case OF
tor New ark and that the people ON the m1ln Gnu
rH''ro#s Over thr sound, by reason OF The lee and
co IL The -eeue OF disaster. 1t has been suggested
10y Mr. ". I. Brown, Senator in the NeW Jersey
Legislature from q. can county, that ia few hours
v1rainF et these storms could 10 esel by teesmph
tnrce ii advance of every storm might BE- collected
o0 this narrow strip of hand ready Afford succor at
once All ~ aoon as vessel should tnl herself
ashore.
propose with your leave, "hen all the answers ic
the cd for The tastigs OF this storm shall have hccr
receives 10 go INTO regular discussion oi it, and t'
illustrate its march and progress hy plans and draw
inEs Respectfully, &c,
W i NACRY,
Lieutenant L S. Navy.
1 II.