New-York tribune., 1868-08-27

practical bearing OF this as Of many Of the papers was
not made eleari although from the evident Importance
OF the state OF NewIork Harbor to the commerce OF
NeW1 0rk Clty and the country, the common hiha Is
allowed TO infer at least the importance OF the subject
uhateHtHc VIII receive on Salth. Very OIten lhe hoet
important papers are the least interest ~ the general
public.
Tie courtroom presents lively appearance during the
reading of papers just now Prof Perce was walking
about pointer In band among the charts hung on the
wall hlng the place OF the Judge very acceptaby The
Secretary was writing at the desk ordinarily occupied
places OF lawyers and jurymen Among the audience.
Mrs Dali was wrtingp tho lofty perch OF the County
Sheriff, and behind his majestic staff. The wives and
friends OF the members and people Of the town.
AFTERNOON sEssIoN-rHE RAINFALL OF THE UNITED
Prof Henry opened the meeting with paper on the
ran-fa OF the United States, by Charles schOtt He
began by referring TO the collections OF observations Dy
le smithsonian Institute lls posts OF oDserVat9ns had
been over l20o New posts were 10 DO established az
points where they we're most needed Two huhuleu new
I~lh-Eauges nad Deeh constructed TOT lH,S Pu
SuTgeOnGoneral cooperating in tho work by for.
warcng these gauges to tho outp0sts OF Ihe army anu
seeing mat oDseryatlons were made llG ram uepeus p
very much upon the wind. In general way we may
say that there are two systems Of winds IN tue United
Statesan upper wind from the West aud lower from
the Southwest. All the meteorological phenomena OF
this continent therefore from the West or South
West. The line storms come from the Vest Out the
moisture that makes rain comes sometimes from the
East and sometimes from the Gulf OF Mexico over te
United States we have a surface VINO coming AROUND
through the Gulf and wind above constantly blowing
from the West The philosophy OF rain mas Oeeh lh4ue
ont by Dir. Espy with good deal OF care. 40 not
agree entirely With his views, but approximately 40
The lower stratum Of air becomes abnornally
heated by the rays Of the sun. and is In
state OF unstable equilibrium In the Spring aud Autumn
an upturnng takes place, OFTEN about every seven DAYS
The heated air rses is swept eastward and falls IN rain
THIS restores the equilibrium for another week In the
summer the equilibrium IL disturbed almost every gay
Mr. Espys views this subject at tst Iaugned AZ
but are now admitted 20 be in main correct At the city
OF SItka there abnormal temperature OF l6' WARMER
THAN would be expected rms Is OWNS 10 the orohoS
currents amount of rain in our new posses
SONS When the wind passes over mo1ntaln ~ Iou9Ws
gonfp Of he Z
becomes warmer aud warmer. Air becomes cooler by
expansion, aud warmer by condensation, - the an cg t
mountains, and so can rise TO hlgher tenperatnre.
Hence when you leave San Francisco IN telnperatnre
to the great desert plains on TINS side OF he
Seras TO the exporers who have gone Oat among the
serfas We have furnished rain gauges that they may de-
termne much possible as 70 the fall OF ram there
The region of Salt lake watered not by ram gnl @ Dy
snow water. The wooded region or the Unltea slales
lies chiefly along the uo OF tho WIND coming up from tue
Prot J. D. whitney gave some facts as to the great va
rictIcs IN tho rainfall in California aud NewM Mexico lie
showed the effect Of the coast ranges IN depryiag o
clouds of their moisture. lie said that II the rain fell IN
the Summer In California, It would run oil Immediately
and the country would be barren desert because ~
falls u the Winter. IL falls snow and forms an Immense
reservoir Of moisture upon the Sierras. -
Prof Henry spoke Of the effect OF cutting on woods
from the mountains, opening rivers ahd springs 70 tue
sun and thus Affecting the fertility OF the neighbOrlng
country In way. by diminishing the rivers, ana IN
another way by carrying the moisture over tne country
TnE REDuCTloN or KEcHuoft's SCALE -
hr. Airy's reduction Of Kirchhufs scale.
As tho mail s about 10 close viii send you tomorrow
an account Of the remainder OF tOdays session ada
list OF the papers which have already been presented
for reading: - -, "a, -
Topography au Geographical work vest n The d meridian by
Whury. Deep drrdgugs 10 the Gsu stream bt j. r.
Pa4 aui general method Of 1egsopnE ihe real root
eluaon essentially eTtrscd ou sgebrn p 3lI H neo
ssrOrr Tides tds 10 estlsy canal btssen
tao uti itasus By Beu Perce Notes on Tie ouTn oi 9
smeus together experiment, ulon the iora'ea II pha' BY
T. pechtu-r.eati ~ J. D. Whugy TIDES aGi iilA cue
rutsu ~ BeDsuin Percs Some points iD th surface
geology tLc k0csy Mountlira By hOey
on h- Of forest vegetation vest o TIE Rocky houn.a rs
Ia Pct. IN Aala q
csies,us iDd marine tertiary tlHmtoe OF Cahon& BY w. ~
Gabb ~ Geog u California TO- On the constitution
of urc acd b. Waco Ghba H. On meth
10 anafiical clm By WaCOu Gbta r. Ou the reputsi
Antelope station Union Pacho Railroad
y ". @. AassI Professor Of PaFnroogy Yale College