Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-09-07

TIE KETEOR0L08Y or VERMONT.

State, has been devised with view TO
uniformity in these observations, not on
ly among themselves, but with respect to
other observations made by the scientific
world at large; so that they may be pos
sessed Of a universal as well as Of a To-
cal value and application.
Il is proposed that they should be con-
Quoted by permanent literary and scien-
tifc institutions in order that they may
be continuous. and without any Of those
breaks and interruptions which always
occur when they are made by individu-
ais. It is thought that they might be
made by the pupils themselves, or at least
under their notice, and that they would
thus be valuable as practical scientific ed
ucation, accustOming youths to an accu-
rate method Of observing the operations
the natural world. There are probably
no better intellectual capacities for close.
scrutinizing observation Of nature than
among orr students in Vermont; and in
fact, We might regard them as peculiarly
well fitted for investigating those subtitle,
intangible elements upon which the me
neurological conditions OF the atmosphere
depends.
With respect TO the instruments which
the system would render necessary, We
have consulted tue Smithsonian Insti,u-
ton. and they recommend to Us those
which are manufactured by Green of
New York. An entire set for a county
would cost about sixty dollars, making
the whole original outlay for the whole
fourteen counties which make up the
State, some eight hundred dollars. This
sum would probably be the whole ex-
peHse which the State would have to in
cgr in establishing the system and carry
ing II into operation since it Is believed
that when the system is once fairly under
way, tie schools or communities them
selves where the observations are to be
made, would become sufficiently interest
ed in them to keep them up. The action
of the State IS needed in order to gener-
alise the system, TO sci it going and give
It uniformity and perPetuity.
The object of the observations is to
record not only the usual phases Of the
weather with respect to heat, cold. rain,
snow, dew, winds, storms, &c, in order
TO discover the relations in which these
qualities Of the weather stand to aqricul-
tJre and prevailing diseases, bu. also to
keep a note Of those more extraordinary
phenomena, such as meteors, bOreaI cor
ruscatiOns, spots on the sun, earthquakes.
tornados, electrical excitements. &c. &c,
a knowledge Of which is necessary in or
der TO a more perfect understanding of
the cOsmical relations Of our globe with
respect to the universe.
The necessity Of a more definite
knowledge Of the weather than We now
/ possess, is very evident when we cousid-
er how vague our impressions upon the
! subject are. We are often Of the opin-
ion that season has been very cold,
when the Instruments would show on the
contrary that It has been very warm
I Almost everybody thinks that the sea
sons have changed, and inst they are
very different from Lat they used to be
thst fruit trees are IN consequence de.
stroyed that crops ere not so good a:
formerly, &e. but # re had a good Sc.
ries Of observations throughout the State
extending back many years, we could
soon discover whether to attribute fauH.
to change Of the climate CT to sons
other cause. We cannot make much i'm
Proyement in agriculture SO long as w
are uncertain with respect to the cause.
which affect it.
With view 70 clear understanding
on the par; Of the reader Of the system
Of meteorological observations which i
proposed for the State, and the action
4 deemed necessary from the State in th,
in the case, We give j, below in the form
Of al enactment, as follows -
An Act for establishing a system o.
meteorological observations for the Stat.
of Vermont.
d. Be i. enacted, &c. That the Treasu,
rer be, and hereby is authorized, to paw
over to certain schools, seminaries or col
leges, not exceeding one to each county
IN the State, the sum Of sixty dollars tc
each, for the purchase Of suitable instru.
menis for meteorological observations. tc
be made in the form prescribed bv the
Smithsonian Institution; provided. that
said schools, seminaries or colleges shall
engage, through their trustees or facpl.
ties, to keep a regular system of meteor.