Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-03-10

e. I. c. G. F Fh BAEDWIS, Committee.
4 SYSTEM or METEOR0L0G ICAL 0BSER-
IITIONS FOR the ST1TE or
VERMONT.
The science of Metcorology, though of COM
parativcly recent origin, already ranks among
the foremost in interest and utility Great ef-
forts are made not only by individuals and as
sociations, but also by governments, towards
its development. The amount of new facts
that are being yearly added in this way to the
stock of human knowledge, is Of great impor-
lance in completing our understanding of the
true character of this residence of man-the
globe which we inhabit, and of our relation
thereto. In the efforts for the advancement Of
the science of Meteorology we may perhaps
rank England as first, France or Prussia sec
ond, and the United States as third or fourth.
This science has made its way, thus far,
against the oft repeated inquiry-"What is the
use of ftp" but the spirit of the times has be-
come too much enlightened at the present day
to be deferred by any consideration of this kind,
when the enlargement of the bounds of human
enlightenment is in question. If an Espey
or a Wise were row to propose to produce rain
by the instrumentality of fire, or TO cross the
American Continent and the Atlantic in a bal
loon, he would be no longer laughed at as an
idle thcorist. The public mind, in fact, subor-
dinatcd and controlled by the wonderful devcl-
opments of science far excelling the wisdom Of
a solomon, now labors in quarrying out facts,
as it were, from the mountains of truth, with
out questioning into what part of the glorious
temple of knowledge they are to be built. 1t
has learned to estimate facts rs of priceless
worth, and to perceive that they will certainly
find their place in building up some great utility
to man. Since we have seen that it was n care
full examination into the nervous twitchings of
a frogs leg that led as a first step to that aston
ishing system of nervous tissues, the electrical
telegraph, the mind has learned to appreciate
the gemmy value of a fact, however insignificant
it may appear, and now no longer asks-"What
is the use of it?"
1t is not long since a cavernous passage in a
certain part of France was discovered to be
possessed of Il temperature very considerably
lower than that of the surrounding air. Al
though the warm south wind blew into it, and
through it, the temperature within was almost
icy cold. The waters, constantly dripping from
the messy rocks, and being as constantly evap-
grated by the warm dry wind. kept the cavern
reduced to near the freezing point, even in the
warmest months of summer. This fact, although
known in the neighborhood for a long time, was
never turned to any account until it was thor
oughly understood. The cavern was then made
use of for dairy purposes, for the making and
preserving Of butter and cheese, and so yalua-
BILE did it become, in this respect, that it gave
rise to a village of some five hundred inhabitants,
dairy men and women, where previously there
were none. Hence, in this case, the discovery
of a single fact would appear to have increased
the capacity of a country for the sustaining of
population by several hundred souls-the high
est test of utility that could be required.
And we have but little doubt in our own
mind that discoveries are already in progress
that will lead to a much higher degree of utili-
ty TO France than this. For her territory is
now annually subject to frightful ravages from
hail-storms, by the prevention of which there
would be saved from destruction food enough
for thousands. These storms are always known
to be accompanied by extraordinarily active ex-
hibilions Of electricity and it is not at all i'm
possible, but OIL the contrary is very probable,
that any means by which the electricity could
be drawn off would prevent the formation of
hail and consequently the ruin which the hail
now produces among the crops, Perhaps a
sufficient number Of lightning rods upon some
elevated point Of land, like that fasces of them,
as it were, which rises with their silver points
from the edilices of our neighboring town of
Amherst, would draw out the ire from the
blacklist thunder cloud us q Gordon of bayonets
does from a charge of horse. If SO, a few well
guarded points in the higher lands of France,
would probably protect her whole territory from
the hail-storm, just as a house is now protected
by n single lightning rod.
With regard to the usefulness of meteorolog-
ical observations to Vermont, aside from an ag-
r%icultural point of view in which it is too APP
parent to need more than a reference, we may
allude to the subject of health. In a climate
so variable as our winter climate is, subject to
sudden changes from cold and dry to warm and
wet, and rice persa, and where fevers of the
worst kind as well as consumption seem to be
becoming more prevalent, it is of the first i'm
portance that we should have a thorough knowl-