Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-29
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP
fDBFERRED ARTICLHs

DEFERRED ARrlCLks.
METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS OF rHE SMITH
soNIAS INSTITUTION AND THE UNITED STATES
PATENT OFFICE.-Prof. Henry gives the fol.
lowing interesting particulars respecting this
system in his last report:
The system was commenced in l849 and has
since then been gradually improving in the
number OF observers, character of the ipstru-
ments, and the precision with which the records
are made. The Institution has awakened q
wide interest in the subject Of meteorology,
and has difused a considerable amount of In. /.
formation with regard to it which could not
readily be obtained through other means The
manufacture Of instruments compared with
standards furnished by the Institution from
London and Paris, has been an important
means Of advancing the science. The work is
still continued By James Green, l73 Grand
street, New York, and during the past year an
increasing number Of full sets has been pur.
chased by observers. The Institution has con-
tinued to distribute rain. cages, with which
observations are now made on the quantity of
aqueous precipitation in nearly every State
and Territory Of the Union.
We are indebted to the National telegram
line for series Of observations from New Or
leans to New York, and as far westward as
Cincinnati, Ohio, which have been published
in the Evening Star, Of this city These re-
~,
they be extended further north, and more gen
orally TO the westward, they would furnish
important Information as to the approach of
storms. We hope in the course Of another
year 10 make such an arrangement with the
telegraph lines as to be able to give warning
on the eastern coast OF the approach of storms,
since the investigations which have been made
at the Institution fully indicate the fact that
as general rule the storms of our latitude
pursue q definite course
The materials which have been collected
relative to the estimate of the North American
continent are as follows:
lst. miscellaneous collection of MSS. and
other tables relative to the climate Of the Uni.
ted States This series will be enriched by a
reference list to all the meteorological records
which are to be found in the extensive library
of Mr. Peter Force, of this city, and other ac-
cessible sources of information.
I'd. The observations made under the direc-
tion Of this Institution since 1849.
81. A series Of observations made by DR..
Berlandier in Mexico.
- 4th. Observations made in the British pos
sessions.
5th. The record of observations made by gov
ernment and other exploring expeditions.
9th. Copies Of the observations made under
the direction of the Surveyor General at the
military posts.
9TH Copies of the observations made at the
expense of the States Of New York, Massachu-
sets, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Missouri.
oth series Of observations from Bermuda
and the West Indies.
Besides these, the Instita ton is endeayoripg
to obtain, by means Of its exchanges, full Sc
ries Of all observations which have been made
IN foreign countries, and to form a complete
meteorological library.
Complaints have been made on account of
the delay in publishing deductions from the
materials which have been thus collected, but
with the limited means Of the Institution, il
SHOULD be recOllected that all objects enumer-
sted In the programme Of organization cannot
be simultaneously accomplished. The reduc-
tlons have been steadily pursued for the last
i've years, and all the funds, not otherwise alb
solutely required, have been devoted by the
Institution 10 this object
Ii will be matter Of astonishment to those
not practically acquainted with the subject to
De informed as to the amount Of labor required
Tor the reduction of the returns made TO this
Institution for q single year. During 1855 the
records OF upwards of half a million Of separate
observations, each requiring q reduction inyoI-
wing an arithmetical calculation, were received
at the Institution. Allowing sn average of
one minute for the examination and reduction
OF each observation, the amount Of time con-
sumed will be nearly 1000 hours or at the
rate Of seven hours per day il will be | 900
days, or upwards Of three years. or, in other
words, TO keep up with the reduction Of the
OF three expert cOmputers is required. This
ls independent of the labor expended in the
correspondence, preparation and distribution
OF blank forms, and the deduction of general
principles. The work has been ted,
therefore, as rapidly as the means at the dis
posal Of the Institution would permit.
The NORTHERN OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE
1t strikes Us as being not very remarkable
that the overland mail route from st. Louis to
San Francisco is rarely patroniEed by more
than half a dozen passengers per trip, in view
Of its disagreeabilities and periIs, as narrated
by one Of the passengers on the last trip east
ward, TO the ST. Louis Republican; an extract
from whose statement is appended below
With such facts occurring so early in such n
season as the present, we fancy il will not prove
easy to induce Congress TO essay the cOnstruc-
tion Of railroad on or near that route at the
eost Of the Government
" The roads were In very good condition from
SAn Francisco to ella river. AT the latter place
they encountered the effects OF recent rains In that
region, and the roads continued In a wretched
state the remainder Of the route, but paTtcula
Dad east from Fort Belknzp. The coach was
overturned three times, once three miles this
side OF Van Buren, Arkansas, and twice the
other side Of Fort Yuma, California but fortu-
nate!y no one was Injured
Twenty-Five hours Were consumed in coming
the htst seventy-nye miles from Tucson. Through
apache canon the snow fifteen inches in
depth AT Apache they were forced to leave the
coach aad walk distance Of twelve miles In the
night, through snow two and a half feet In depth
oy thls operation Mr.. Beardsly had his feet bad
~ frozen. lie says be never before experienced
such night Of suffering Along this portion OF
tLe route t required twenty -four hours TO travel
distance Of nfty-eigbt miles
" A severe sand storm was encountered ON the
Colorado riyer''
THx PunSxxr NJ