Box 10, Folder 8: Correspondence January - August 1870

[Letter from Horace Capron to Increase Allen Lapham] [Letterhead] Department of Agriculture Washington D.C. Jan 7th 1870

I.A. Lapham Esq. Milwaukee, Wis.

Dear Sir,

I am in receipt of your note of the 1st [inst], in reference to practicability of establishing telegraphic stations for the purpose of giving infor= mation of the approach of storms &c [etc].

This is a question of vast importance to the Commercial and Agricultural interests of our country which my attention has before been directed; and will afford me pleasure to use whatever influence I may pofsefs [possess] in calling the attention of members of Congrefs [Congress] to the subject matter introduced by the Hon H.E. Payne.

I am, very respectfully.

Horace Capron

Commifsioner [Commissioner].

[Letter from Prof. Cleveland Able to Increase Allen Lapham] 38

Prof C. Able

arr'd 12th

Cincinnati Ob^y Jan 7 1870

Dear Sir:

I must write to [illegible] the pleasure experienced in realizing the energy with which you are furthering the matter of a ^[illegible] meteorological system of storm warnings.

May our labor in this field [illegible] been not perhaps so much for the good of the country and the advance of meteorology as for the sake of astronomy

We can I think make no more progress in our knowledge of terrestrial and celestial [illegible] until we better understand the laws of the distribution of [illegible] & heat & pressure in the atmosphere and our profound system of [illegible] coupled with a daily Bulletin or chart will much [illegible] this study

My addictive incentive has been the desire to inform the community in general

[Letter from Prof. Cleveland Able to Increase Allen Lapham] [Left Page] [Letterhead] Cincinnati Observatory

January 7 1870

The undersigned, on behalf of this Observatory, takes pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of the following publications, for which favors be pleased to accept our his sincere thanks.

The Storm of 859 Mch 13-17

Cleveland Able

Director of the Cincinnati Observatory

Hon. I. A. Lapham [Center Page] with usefulness of the work carried on of observatories. To this letters end I have [enclosed?] to expand the field of activity of this observatory so as to include meteorology magnetism geology geography, & all other matters [illegible] with astronomy

By pursuing this course it seems as though we might like to plan upon a [illegible] foundation the establishment of a few good observatories which should take combine the usefulness of Greenwich & the science of [illegible]

I trust that in this [illegible] view for will coincide or at best that it will not be offered to the [illegible] that may have guided you. Astronomy especially has suffered in this country from discussions and the observatories have been weak and poorly appreciated — we must see to secure the support of the people by [illegible] our usefulness.

I have in the Smithsonian [Right Page] Report for 1867 shows the course formed by [illegible] & its results — we may well be accepted as a model in this respect

I write with the [mere?] feeling because I have noticed the introduction of a Bill into the ^U.S. Federal Senate recommending the appropriation of money to the Army for the purpose of [carrying?] out the system storm warning.

Now there naming Must ^ ought to be based upon observation made by the intelligent telegraph operator or manager of officer or other [illegible] the meteorological observation of the army here generally proved themselves very unreliable and are certainly no better than those that the telegraph operator could easily make.

It would I think ^ have [illegible] if the Bill had recommended that [illegible] appoint a committee of 3 [illegible] Henry & [Coffin?] & a naval or army officer [illegible] to report some plan of action.

And I am especially of opinion that the money secured would do more toward effecting

[Letter from Prof. Cleveland Able to Increase Allen Lapham] good results if it goes into ^ through the hands of meteorologists rather than with ^ through the hands of army officers.

It would be a pity to see the country saddled with an inefficient a meteorological office as it has [illegible] enough to do to carry on the naval observatory with its present objectionable system of management. Every such onus is a [illegible] hindrance to the purpose of science in the country.

I presume however that we shall both be able to [illegible] some plan that will prove feasible

I try to than you again for a copy of the [illegible] containing your map of the Storm of 1859 Mch 14

The Daily Weather Bulletin that I have been publishing [illegible] temporarily but will [illegible} resumed. I have sent a short notice of it to the "Bureau.

very respectfully yours

Cleveland Able.

Hon. I. A. Lapham

From the Chicago Bureau

Astronomical Observatory Cincinnati Jan 7 1870

To the Editor of the Bureau:

"The important of predicting the approach of a storm is acknoledged by all. Does not this become a necessity and an imperative duty, as soon as its possibility is established? That it is possible has been shown again and again.

In 1854 the Smithsonian Institute displayed daily a chart showing the state of the weather at 8 am from as many points as could be reported from." XXX

The matter was considered by the Chambers of Commerce of Chicago and Cincinnati, "and in the latter city authority was granted the Observatory to institute the necessary reports, and to publish a daily Weather Bulletin for three months.

Now astronomers are not necessarily meteorologists and yet the Bulletin became in a few months a matter of universal interest; so much so that the Press of this city have declared themselves desirous