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EJH

Increase A. Lapham 1811-1875Increase A. Lapham 1811-1875

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Other Accomplishments 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

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Interests in Weather & Climate 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

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• 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...?"

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• The Paine Law

• [Act of Feb. 9, 1870, Sess. II, Res. 12, 16 Stat. 369 (1870)]

• FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS. SESS. II. RES. 8, 12, 13, 15, 16. 1870. 569

• [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.

• 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.

• 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.

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• 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."

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• Epilogue– KEC-60 transmitter at Lapham Peak

State Park.