Transcript Increase Lapham

Increase Allen Lapham
EJH
Increase A. Lapham 1811-1875
Increase A. Lapham
Other Accomplishments
• Interests in Phenology, Paleontology, Indian
Mounds
• Also State Geologist (1873-75)
• Helped found
– Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters
– State Historical Society
– Milwaukee Female Seminar (Downer College)
Lapham & Trenton (Wis.) Meteorite
Ca. 1868
Increase A. Lapham
Interests in Weather & Climate
• Study of Influence of Lake Michigan on
Wisconsin’s Climate ca. 1865 (map)
• Study of 1859 Storm
– Used Coffin’s Analysis of Smithsonian Network Data
– Concern with Loss of Life from Great Lakes Storms
Increase A. Lapham
• To General Halbert E. Paine,
Congressman for Milwaukee:
Were it not "...the duty of the Government
to see whether anything can be done to
prevent, at least, some portion of this sad
loss in the future...?"
Increase Lapham
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The Paine Law
[Act of Feb. 9, 1870, Sess. II, Res. 12, 16 Stat. 369 (1870)]
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FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS. SESS. II. RES. 8, 12, 13, 15, 16. 1870. 569
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[No. 12.] Joint Resolution to authorize the Secretary of War to provide for taking meteorological
Observations at the military Stations and other Points in the Interior of the Continent, and for giving
Notice on the northern Lakes and Seaboard of the Approach and Force of Storms.
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Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he hereby is, authorized and required to
provide for taking meteorological observations at the military stations in the interior of the continent,
and at other points in the States and Territories of the United States, and for giving notice on the
northern lakes and on the sea-coast, by magnetic telegraph and marine signals, of the approach and
force of storms.
APPROVED, February 9, 1870.
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• At 7:35 a.m., November 1st, 1870,
simultaneous weather observations were
taken at 24 locations and telegraphed to
several cities, bringing a national weather
service, called the Division of Telegrams
and Reports, into being for the benefit of
commerce.
Increase Lapham
• First Official Forecasted Storm Warning
(issued 8 Nov 1870)
"High wind all day yesterday at Cheyenne and Omaha;
a very high wind this morning at Omaha; barometer
falling with high winds at Chicago and Milwaukee
today; barometer falling and thermometer rising at
Chicago, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo and
Rochester; high winds probable along the Lakes."
Increase Lapham
• Epilogue
– KEC-60 transmitter at Lapham Peak
State Park.