The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-01
A Grand and s:upendous Project.

A Grand and StupeRGous Project.
Since the death of HJIBOLDT,
MATTHEW f. MAURY stands at the
head of the scientific world. Before
the war, he made q vast survey OF the
sea, measuring its depths, tracing its
currents, and gauging the winds that
sweep over its surface, and thereby
furnishing information that las been
of immense value to navigate and
consequently to the whole commerce
ofthe world. Now he comes ont with
n proiect,-which viii be found on
another page,-for noting thc forces
at work on the whole face Of the
earth, and distributing the iaurma-
ton for the benefit of produces and
mankind in general, which deserves
10 rank with the most stureudous
undertakings of this age Of wonders.
Heproposes, with the aid and vo-ope-
ration OF the various goveTnuy MS OF
the world and the use of all la2 ap-
planes of steam and electricity. 10
establish vast system OF weather
and crop observations and reports,
which shall keep producers in all
lands informed Of what is going on
all over the globe, so that they may
know wherewith they are competing
and what their prospects are in the
markets.
The smallest farmer on the bleak
hills of New England, as tie New
York World truly says, is engaged in
a competitor with all the world in
| growing his small crop Of wheat OF
corn. and vet he hardly knows what
is Going on beyond the small circle Of
I MS UI3 II ITUTIECrr, any UrTy- WISE
enough to tell him until after hi,
/ crops are sold and the final rcpor..
are made up on the years labor.
/ The value of wheat at Chicago OF
cotton nj New Orleans depends as
well on the quantity OF those staples
grown in the regions Of the Bald.
and Black seas or on the plains ol
Hiudostan IS on that which is saith
cred in from The prairies and tlc
-ayanuas, and yet the growers have
10 let them so at whatever price the
. buyers may fix, based on crude est
mates or false reports of the coming
-apply. There is no certainty re-
-arding the quantity Of the fruit, O..
the earth which are ripeuina for Oh.
carriers Of mankind. \ blight may
All on the crops Of Southern Rusi-a.
and nothing j. known of il I'm the
Mississippi Valley. The cotton crar
Of India may be a failure, and yet
The growth OF Alabama goes into the
market on the supposigion that there
viii bemiiiions bales from over the
Eastern seas seeking purchaser 10
.le same Cmuoriuls. Hence prices
axe low when the grower Earyusts the
results Of his labor, and high before
his products reach the consumer. and
-Il mediterranean spectators sweep
.a aa enormous share OF the profits.
Ii VIII De easily zen how ya-a E Tie
less To- the producing class, spring.
iH- Qua OF their ignorance OF wHai
Enc earth Is bringing forth, and uuw
utterly rowerIc-s they .re t. help
themselves v-ithno means o. agrli-
ur-- for Obtaining the knowledge
which they need.
The scheme al Professor EAuEy
proposes 90 supply uas great GeHci-
aucy. lie believes that man ha, al
readvin his hands powers and a-en-
.ies which viii enable tie grain
grower Of the West and the cotton
planter Of the south 10 know, as the
season rragre--,-. the probable
supply oftlc staple in which ha is
Interested in I'll quarters OF il.e globe,
and when the times Of harvest come
81 tile different cliu,- g, Dee iura,m-
"a with approximate precision 10. la-
actual quantities sent into the mark
Il. The benefits Of jHa -.aeme are
apparent: it, gracjtcabiiiay = uo more
doubtful than that Of many other
great undertakings which have heea
carried through 10 success seemed o.
De whom they were first projected.
The experiment Of making weather
aa-arvations which j. already iu pro-
rre~s gives earnest Of the great things
that may be done. Ills only ueces-a-
~ 10 enlarge the scale upon which
,lsa present work IS done TO proper
.i0ns fitting the magnificent plan q
Professor MAURY. Observers and
reporters would be employed i'm diff
.eIeIt districts, in all countries the
telegraph and postal systems would
he utilized 70 convey Information to
commercial centres and rgdis.TibGte
It, international arrangement. would
be necessary FOR the exchange Of re-
ports. and a vast bHt subtle and
silent machinery set to work all
the world over gathering sHd dis
seninating knowledge on important
variations Of the weather and cpudi-
ton OF tie growing or the eaue-CG
crops. The scheme is rs h-nyf.aut
as il j. vast, and is worthy o: tIeage
-hat tunnels mountain ranges, spans
continents with iron Tos,is, and lays
telegraph lines through the depths Of
tho 500