Press are regularly published by the daily papers, which also print the monthly abstracts and other data furnished by the observer. The issue of post-office bulletins to four hundred and three offices was commenced July 15, 1873, and been continued daily, with the exception of Sundays since that date. These bulletins contain the midnight Synopsis and Probabilities issued from the central office, and two copies are mailed to each post-office. The total number of copies issued to date amounts to sixty-two thousand and sixty-two.

Previous to this issue, the observer wrote manifold copies of the Probabilities for display in connection with the regular bulletin. Of these, one thousand one hundred and eighty-eight copies were made and posted.

Sergt. H. E. Cole, who was in charge of station at the date of the last report, was relieved April 12, 1873, on account of ill-health, and succeeded by Sergt. E. A. Lewis, who was succeeded September 24 by Sergt. P. G. Dietz, who is now in charge. Private Dunne was ordered in for promotion July 1, and succeeded by Private E. D. Holbrook, the present assistant. When the issue of post-office bulletins was commenced, two additional assistants were sent there to aid in getting them out promptly. One of these men was relieved for misconduct September 23, and his place filled by a better man. Upon the recommendation of the inspecting officer, a fourth assistant was sent to the station September 29, making four now on duty.

The station was inspected in January, and again in September of this year. At the first inspection, the instruments and records were found in excellent condition, and the observer, Sergeant Cole, highly commended for his zeal, intelligence, and excellent habits. His relief was

a source of regret to the business men with whom he held official relations.

The full report of the September inspection has not yet been received, but the inspector reported by telegraph the unfitness of Sergeant Lewis, and recommended his immediate relief.

The meteorological committee at the station, of which Mr. Thomas Gaffield is chairman, has been active in rendering such assistance as was called for from time to time by this office, and also in extending courtesies to the observer on duty.

During the year thirty-four cautionary signals have been displayed, of which number twenty are reported by the observer as justified at the station.

The observer remarks in reference to these signals, as follows:
November 29-December 1, 1872.-Severe storm reported along the coast.

December 26-27, 1872.-Heavy storm along the coast, and shipping all remained in port. January 5-6, 1873.-Severe storm on the coast; all shipping remained in port. January 23-25, 1873.-Shipping remained in port. The display of this signal commended by the press.

January 27-28, 1873.-Shipping remained in harbor. of this station.

Storm severe on the coast south

February 7-8, 1873.-Storm along the coast reported severe. Vessels going to sea took warning and remained in port.

February 16-17, 1873.-Shipping remained in port. Severe storm along the coast. February 21-22, 1873.-Very severe storm; shipping remained in port. The press commended the display of the signal.

March 10, 1873.-Short, but severe storm.

March 11-12, 1873.-Shipping remained in port. Storm severe on the coast. March 15-17, 1873.-Southeast snow-storm, followed by very high westerly winds. The shipping remained in port, with the exception of the steam-yacht Grace Irving, which put to sea, after being specially warned that a danger-signal was flying, and was lost, with all on board, four or five persons.

March 29-April 1, 1873.-The shipping would not sail at night, but waited for daylight, while the signal was displayed.

April 12-15, 1873.-Shipping remained in port during display of signal; storm long and severe.

May 2-4, 1873.-Vessels remained in port; blowing hard outside.

August 13-15, 1873.-Storm very severe outside. Many vessels staid in port, and a few small boats were washed from their moorings.

The following extract from a special report, made by Sergeant Cole, upon the meteorological conditions attending the great fire of Novem ber 9 and 10, 1872, is believed to possess sufficient general interest to justify its insertion here:

During the progress of the fire, the wind varied from N. N. W. to N., with a velocity from five to nine miles per hour, weather being clear and pleasant and the air dry, the fire breaking out shortly after 7 p. m., November 9, 1872. Between 2 and 3 a. m., November 10, standing at the intersection of School and Devonshire streets, on the north or windward side of the fire, looking south toward and at a distance of about 500 feet from it, the indraught of air along the ground through Devonshire street toward the burning buildings assumed the character of a brisk wind, probably sixteen or eighteen miles an hour, while little or no wind could be felt on School street. At this time the heat over the fire, which covered an area of probably 800 or 900 feet square, was so great as to cause fire, smoke, &c., to be carried in spirals to a very great height.

At a point on South street, which is on the south or lee side of the fire, and about 200 feet from it, the induced currents, at about 3.15 a. m., were very strong, rushing through the street toward the fire, which then probably covered over 1,000 feet square, with a velocity of probably thirty or thirty-five miles an hour, carrying the fire bodily to windward.

This state of affairs appears to be the reverse of the Chicago fire, where the force of the wind prevailing at the time was sufficient to overcome the induced currents, and the fire burned to leeward. In the present case, it appeared as if the light wind permitted the indraughts to rise at a considerable angle after reaching the fire, leaving a large space of highly rarified air in their front, inducing stronger currents to rush in, which, meeting the indraught, gave the spiral or whirlwind form to the ascending currents; and this idea is strengthened by the fact that on the outskirts of the fire the flames, when breaking through the windows of the buildings, always tended upward, joining with the whirling mass of flames and smoke which covered that portion of the city with a fiery dome, while the flames from those buildings more in the center or vortex of the fire formed downward a perfect cataract of flame, destroying even the granite blocks with which the streets were paved. The surface-wind generally was accelerated on all streets leading to the fire, but more especially so on the south side of it.

During the night a flock of ducks passed at a great height over the fire, and the light reflected from their plumage made them appear as fire-balls passing rapidly through the air. Many who marked their flight called them meteors, and likened them to the fire-balls said to have been seen in the Northwest during the great fires in that region. As an example of the great heat diffused, I would state that during the night I exposed a thermometer in the observatory to the full glare of the fire, when it rose nearly 5°, although placed upward of two thousand feet from the burning buildings and dead to windward of them.

No other meteoric phenomena were observed, the weather remaining unchanged.

BRECKENRIDGE, MINNESOTA.

The location of the office remains unchanged since last report. It is the best that can be obtained in the place, and affords good exposure for the several instruments. The building occupied is a frame one, and not well adapted for the comfort or convenience of the observer, and it is recommended that suitable provision be made before another winter to protect the observer from the inclemency of the weather. As reports are not received here from other stations, bulletins are not issued.

Sergt. C. A. Shaw remains in charge, and has rendered all reports in a satisfactory manner. He reports that much interest is manifested by travelers in the working of the office and the different instruments. Strangers in passing through the town seldom fail to call at the office.

No change has been made in the location of the office at this station during the year, nor is any considered necessary, as the present one is in the business center of the city. Reports from fifty-five other stations are received here and published in the regular manner, in the form of maps, bulletins, and press reports. During the year five thousand four hundred and one manifold maps, six thousand four hundred and seventytwo bulletins, and one thousand and sixty-two press reports have been issued. In addition to this issue one thousand five hundred and fortynine copies of the Synopsis and Probabilities were made on manifold forms and posted with the regular bulletins before July 22, on which date the issue of post-office bulletins was commenced to one hundred and fifty-three offices. Two copies are furnished each office daily, and the total number issued to date is twenty-one thousand four hundred and twenty. The leading newspapers publish the tabulated reports and also the monthly abstracts, while all of them print the latest Probabilities received.

The meteorological committee of the board of trade continues to assist the office whenever practicable, and its members retain their interest in the service. Sergt. William McElroy was relieved from charge of the station January 24, and reduced to the ranks for failing to render his mail reports regularly. He was succeeded by Sergt. W. H. Colesberry, who has given satisfaction by the promptness and regularity with which all reports have been made. Privates T. A. Taylor and D. O'Leary have been called in successively from this station during the year for promotion, and both passed the required examination. Four assistants are now on duty, and are kept steadily employed in getting out the various publications of the office and attending to their daily distribution. The station was inspected in March, and some slight irregularities discovered in the records, which were attributed to the neglect of Sergeant McElroy.

The instrument-shelter was also found defective, and as soon as the necessary arrangements could be made a new one was built on the roof of the office-building in accordance with the plan adopted by this office. Twenty-seven cautionary signals have been displayed during the year, of which the observer reports thirteen fully, and seven partly, justified at the station. The observer remarks as follows in reference to the result of these warnings:

October 15-16, 1872.-The cautionary caused considerable apprehension, as the barometers had fallen rapidly in the previous eight hours, and was therefore generally observed, no vessel leaving the harbor during its display.

October 30-31, 1872.-The signal caused much comment among "lake-men," quite a number of vessels being ready to go out, but were detained on account of the signal until the morning of the 31st.

November 7-8, 1872.-The storm very severe; all vessels remaining in port during the display. One barge, with all on board, was lost while trying to make the harbor in the morning.

November 13-15, 1872.-Generally observed by lake-men. Two vessels attempted to leave the harbor but failed. The wind blew a gale on the lake, its velocity being onethird greater than that shown by the anemometer on shore.

November 27-28, 1872.-Gale very severe, but the wind being from southwest for several days previous, and no vessels leaving port, only those bound in were caught.

November 30-December 4, 1872.-These cautionaries were generally heeded. Owing to ice in the upper lake few vessels had left this port during the week. The captains of two vessels stated that they escaped danger by the display of the signal. ~ Most vessels are laid up for the winter.

May 7-9, 1873.-Signal heeded by mariners, no vessels leaving port during the display.

September 12-13, 1873.-No vessels left port on account of signal.

September 15-16, 1873.—Signal attracted much attention from every one. A fleet of twenty-three vessels remained in port on account of the signal, which caused much excitement and anxiety among mariners.

The location of this office has not been changed since last report. No reports from other stations are received here, and, consequently, no bulletins are issued. The local observations and the monthly abstracts are printed regularly by the several newspapers published at the station. The Synopsis and Probabilities are received irregularly and copied by the observer on the proper manifold form and posted with his local reports.

The station was inspected in December, 1872, and numerous irregularities found. As these appeared to have been caused by the youth and inexperience of the observer, Sergt. George H. Ellery, he was retained on duty upon the recommendation of the inspecting officer, and since that date his reports have been regularly and properly rendered. The members of the meteorological committee express themselves as desirous of doing anything in their power to promote the interests of the service.

The records of the office have been twice used during the year as evidence in legal cases.

There is no assistant on duty at this station, and as the observer's health had become impaired by his close attention to duty, Sergeant Fee was sent to relieve him for one month from July 1, and he was permitted to rest for that period.

No change has been made in the location of the office since last report. Reports from fifteen river-stations are received and bulletined each afternoon when the telegraphic communication is perfect, but none are received in the morning or at midnight.

Three hundred and ninety-eight reports of local observations have been furnished the local press, and one thousand.nine hundred and two. bulletins of river reports posted in appropriate places. The river observations have been continued daily during the year, the top of the levee being used as the bench-mark, and the zero of gauge fixed at the point reached by the extreme low water of December, 1871. The range

between this point and high water of 1867, which reached the top of the levee, is fifty-three feet.

The station has not been inspected since the date of last report. Sergt. Thomas L. Watson was relieved February 18, 1873, for neglect of duty, and was succeeded by Sergt. D. W. Harnett, who left the sta tion without authority, and was reduced to the ranks while absent. He was subsequently apprehended, tried, and found guilty of desertion, and is now serving out his sentence for that crime. Sergt. E. Garland was ordered to succeed him, and is now at the station. His reports are not promptly rendered, and it is intended to relieve him unless a change for the better is made.

Private James M. Watson was ordered in for promotion April 1, and after going through the regular course at Fort Whipple passed a satisfactory examination, and was succeeded by Private E. F. Brady, who still remains and has given satisfaction.

The location of the office at this station remains unchanged. No reports are received here from other stations, the station being used, as during the last year, for observation and report and the display of cautionary signals only. Owing to the present defective telegraphic arrangements much delay has been experienced in the transmission of the regular reports, the midnight ones, with few exceptions, being delayed until the following morning. The papers published at this station are furnished with the local observations daily during July and August, and weekly during the rest of the year.

Sergt. T. F. Townsend remains in charge of the station, and has rendered all his mail reports promptly and in good shape. The station was inspected in January of the present year, and instruments and records reported by the inspector in good condition.

Thirty-six cautionary signals have been displayed during the past year, and of this number twenty-one are reported as justified at the sta tion. In reference to these signals the observer remarks as follows:

October 24-26, 1872.—Wind blew in heavy squalls during the afternoon and evening of the 25th.

January 5-6, 1873.-Tornado twenty miles up the coast at 3 p. m. of the 5th.
January 16-17, 1873.-Heavy squalls, with rain.

January 23-25, 1873.-Wind in heavy squalls.

No signal orders can be sent to this station after 7 p. m., as the telegraph-office closes at that hour.

There is a great demand for the Probabilities among the guests at the several hotels during the watering season, but the local papers are unable to obtain them on account of the early closing of the telegraphoffice.

The following is an extract from the semi-annual report of the observer for the six months ending July 1, 1873, in reference to the interest manifested in the service at this place:

Owing to the uniform correctness of the prognostications, public interest is largely on the increase and corresponding benefits derived. The buildings in this locality