METEOROLOGY, ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF ESTABLISHING METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS IN THE DIFFERENT STATES. Estimate of cost per station for preparing and publishing the abstracts in the form adopted by the Smithsonian Institution, not including the velocity of the wind. Preparation of the abstracts per station* $8.00 6.00 The following statement shows the number of stations required for each State to carry out the above scheme, (see page 33,) and the estimated cost: About 70 per cent. of this work may be done by the observers, and if correctly this item of cost will be proportionally reduced. The estimate is some 18 per cent. below the actual cost, the advantage of having the work done under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution being supposed to be sufficient to make up for the deficiency. METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS CONNECTED WITH THE SENIOR COUNTY GRAMMAR SCHOOLS. [From the Annual School Report for 1858.] 1. Circular to the county councils and to the boards of senior county grammar schools in Upper Canada. GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to inform you that the necessary instruments for making meteorological observations at each of the senior county grammar schools in Upper Canada have been procured by the chief superintendent of education, and are now ready for distribution by this department. The section of the grammar school law authorizing the establishment of these meteorological stations in connexion with the senior county grammar schools of Upper Canada is as follows: "Whereas it is desirable at seminaries and places of education to direct attention to natural phenomena, and to encourage habits of observation; and whereas a better knowledge of the climate and meteorology of Canada will be serviceable to agriculture and other pursuits, and be of value to scientific inquirers: "Be it therefore enacted, That it shall be part of the duty of the master of every senior county grammar school to make the requisite observations for keeping, and to keep, a meteorological journal, embracing such observations, and kept according to such form, as shall from time to time be directed by the Council of Public Instruction; and all such journals or abstracts of them shall be presented annually by the chief superintendent of schools to the governor with his annual report. "Every senior county grammar school shall, on or before the last day of November, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, be provided, at the expense of the county municipality, with the following instruments: "One barometer; one thermometer for the temperature of the air; one Daniels' hygrometer, or other instrument for showing the dewpoint; one rain-gauge and measure; one wind-vane. "And it shall be the duty of the chief superintendent of schools to procure these instruments at the request and expense of the municipal council of any county, and to furnish the master of the senior county grammar school with a book for registering observations, and with forms for abstract thereof, to be transmitted to the chief superintendent by such master, who shall certify that the observations required have been made with due care and regularity. The delay which has occurred in providing these instruments has been unavoidable. Those first selected in the United States were found to be unsuitable; and upon consultation with Colonel Lefroy, so long and favorably known in connexion with this department, improvements, which experience in this climate had suggested, were adopted, and a range as low as 35° and 40° below zero was given to the ther mometers. The instruments, when ready, were all tested by James Glaisher, esq., and their variations recorded. They were also examined and approved by Colonel Lefroy. In addition, the chief superintendent considered it important to subject them to a winter's test at the Provincial Magnetical Observatory, Toronto, before sending them out, and to compare and note any variations which might be caused by exposure to extreme cold. The various instruments and books which are now ready for distribution are as follows: One barometer, either standard or one of a second quality. A self-registering maximum thermometer. A self-registering minimum thermometer. A wet and dry bulb thermometer. A rain-gauge and graduated measuring glass. A copy of the Official Instructions and Directions for making and recording Observations. Daily register book, containing printed forms, and adapted for the observations of one complete year. Monthly and annual abstract book, containing printed forms, and adapted for the observations of one complete year. Blank book for extraordinary records. Map of the Stars, four tables, and synopsis, reprinted from the Instructions and mounted for convenient reference. A copy of Drew's Practical Meteorology. A copy of Coffin's [Smithsonian] Hygrometrical Tables, bound up with the Instructions. (A wind-vane is not sent. It can easily be constructed at the station.) The cost of these instruments and books, including packing, &c., will be $140, one-half of which will be borne by this department and the other half by the county to which the instruments are sent. Where desirable, an officer will be despatched from the department with the instruments to insure safety in their carriage and to assist in fitting them up at the proposed station. Should you desire the instruments to be sent to your grammar school, I will thank you to notify me at your earliest convenience, so that the necessary arrangements for that purpose may be made, and transmit the required amount ($70) with the enclosed form duly filled up. Where, instead of the standard barometer, a barometer of the second quality is selected, the price of the set of instruments, &c., is $110, only onehalf of which ($55) need be sent. The instructions for taking and recording observations, which have been approved by the Council of Public Instruction, have been carefully prepared by the director of the Provincial Observatory, and are sufficiently minute and explicit to enable the head master of the grammar school to make the necessary observations without much trouble. Attention and patience will be indispensable at first, but time and practice will soon insure regularity and accuracy in the observer. In order to afford time for practice, it is suggested that no observations be recorded in the books sent until the 1st of January next. A sufficient supply of unbound sheets will accompany each set of instruments to enable the head master to record his observations on them until that time. A form of monthly returns will also be sent by mail, in which can be recorded each month's observations. These monthly reports should be regularly transmitted to the chief superintendent, as required by law. Of the great practical importance, to a new and but partially settled country, of establishing (thus early in its history, and before its physical condition is materially changed) a complete and comprehensive system of meteorological observations, I need scarcely remark, as the subject will no doubt receive your attentive consideration. The department will rely upon your cordial co-operation in the matter. Every enlightened country in Europe is now more or less engaged in prosecuting inquiries in this particular branch of science. In the other parts of her Majesty's dominions, and in the United States, meteorological stations have been long since established. Although the science is yet comparatively in its infancy, yet from the aggregate of facts which have already been collected at various points and in different countries, truths of highest value and importance in scientific research have been unfolded, unsettled theories have been tested, and questions relating to physical phenomena, which had long remained among the sealed mysteries of nature, have been satisfactorily solved. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your very obedient servant, J. GEORGE HODGINS, Deputy Superintendent. EDUCATION OFFICE, Toronto, September 25, 1857. 2. Meteorological Stations Established. During the present year the following meteorological stations have been established at the senior county grammar schools in Upper Canada: 1, Port Sarnia; 2, Chatham; 3, Guelph; 4, Hamilton; 5, Niagara; 6, Milton; 7, Barrie; 8, Whitby; 9, Belleville; 10, Pictou ; 11, Perth; 12, Cornwall; 13, L'Original, (instruments purchased but not yet sent for.) Each of these twelve stations has been visited by an officer of this department who, in addition to fixing the locality, position of instruments, &c., has given practical instructions in the use of the instruments with which the stations have been provided. It was not thought necessary to supply wind-vanes, as they are easily constructed at the stations. Instructions, however, were given for making approximate observations of the direction and velocity of the wind. Each of the stations has also been supplied with a sufficient quantity of sheets of the various forms and abstracts for practice, previous to making entries in the registers. The daily register contains a sufficient number of the two forms, A and B, for a year's observation, as follows: Form A contains on each of its pages the following headings, viz: "Barometer corrected at 32° Fah.; Gaseous pressure; Temperature of air corrected; Wet bulb thermometer corrected; Difference of dry and wet bulb; Elasticity or tension of vapor; Humidity; Direction and velocity of wind; Appearance of sky; Class and arrangement of clouds; Amount of cloudiness; Clouds in motion-Class, Elevation, Direction, Form, and Velocity; Aurora; General remarks." These observations are required to be made three times a day, viz: at 7 a. m., 1 p. m., and 9 p. m. Form B contains blanks for one month's observations on one page, the columns for which are, "Day of the month; Self-registering maximum and minimum thermometers; Daily range of temperature; Rain, Began at, Ended at, Total duration; Cubic inches in gauge; Depth in inches; Snow, Began at, Ended at, Total duration; Depth in inches; Total depth of rain and melted snow; Remarks." Full instructions having been given, the observers, after a little practice, were required, in accordance with the act and regulations, to transmit monthly abstracts of their observations to the educational department, two forms for which were supplied as follows: Form C, which is a condensation of forms A and B, contains columns for the corrected observations, and the daily as well as monthly means. Form D includes the "highest, lowest, and monthly range of barometer; also, the great ranges within twenty-four hours; the dates and total number of rainy days, snowy days, foggy days, storms of wind, frosts; columns for four classes of auroras: sky unfavorable, observations doubtful; sky unfavorable, observations impossible; sky favorable, none seen; the highest, lowest, and monthly range of temperature; the greatest and least daily range; the mean temperature of the warmest and coldest days; lightning, thunder, hail, or rain; meteors and optical phenomena; general remarks." These abstracts are required to be certified as true copies of the originals, and the observations as having been made with due regularity, as required by law. The annexed table will show how far the observers have succeeded in accomplishing the objects contemplated by the act: *No reports have been received from Niagara for several months, nor from Hamilton or Milton for some time; but the omission at these two stations was owing to a change of masters. The master at Cornwall having tendered his resignation, the instructions were not given till October. Names of observers from whom well prepared abstracts have been received: At Belleville, Alexander Burdon; at Barrie, Rev. W. F. Checkley, A. B.; and at Port Sarnia, Rev. G. J. R. Salter, B. A. The observations taken at Barrie have been regularly published in the local papers. |