JULY, 1901. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 317
so-called trade wind dusts which blow from Africa over the
Atlantic Ocean. The total quantity of the dust that fell on
March 11 averaged 260 grams to 1,400 square meters in
Fiume.
The effect of this dust floating in the atmosphere was to
produce a reddish haze and to diminish the amount of inso-
lation a t the earths surface thereby doubtless increasing the temperature of the air in the upper strata. The general color
of the dust when dry and collected in quantity is a bright
reddish brown ; a sample of it presented by Monsieur Barac
is deposited in the Library of the Weather Bureau.
----
THE MILWAUKEE, WIS., CONVENTION OF WEATHER BUREAU OFFIUIALS.
At the conclusion of the Milwaukee Convention we are
filled with the conviction that the triennial convention has
come to stay. This was the second general convention pre-
ceded by seven or eight meetings of the more restricted char-
acter, and has demonstrated beyond all peradventure that
nothing gives such a stimulus to development of new ideas,
the removal of doubts and troubles, the incentive to better
work; nothing EO firmly cements the bonds of friendship or
the highest esprit du corps as these few days of personal in-
# tercourse between the Chief and his representatives through-
out the country. I n a few remarks made by our distin-
guished Voluntary Observer Rev. Father Odenbach, S. J., of
Cleveland, Ohio, he expresaed with great earnestness the im-
pression made upon himself by his intercourse with those
present by saying that he was convinced that EO far as he knew there was but one other organization in the world,
namely, that to which he himself had the honor of belong-
ing, that could compare with the Weather Bureau in intelli-
gence, discipline, and devotion. To his miIid there could be
no doubt of continued success, and the final overconling of
every difficulty, scientific and practical, EO long as we main-
tain our present high standard in these three directions. Nothing could exceed the perfection and convenience of
the arrangements made to accommodate the conventioii and
facilitate work, and as for the hospitality and the entertaio-
ment that were offered to the Inembers and their wives when
their time was not occupied in the work incident to the
meeting, it was both elegant and lavish.
On the opening day of the session a clear sky and an east- erly wind set forth to perfection the beauty of Milwaukee
and the adjacent lake. From the windows of the Conven-
tion Hall, as one listened to the speakers, the eye was fre-
quently tempted to glance through the banquet hall of the
Hotel Pfiater and rest upon the sparkling sapphire of the dis-
tant water. We hope that at some time or other every official
of the Weather Bureau may have the opportunity to feast
upon the heauties of Milwaukee and her lake.
As every thing that was said, and done has been fully re- corded by the skillful pen of Mr. R. M. Reese, and will be
published in Mr. Berrys final report, it will be unnecessary
for the Editor a t the present time to dwell upon the details
of the meeting. Every one expresses delight a t the strong stand taken by the Chief in his opening address and subse-
quent remarks in favor of increased attention to special
scientific work, more profound investigations, more perfect
meteorological laboratory, more thorough instructions in
preliminary physics and mechanics. The papers read by
.Professors Bigelow and McAdie, and by MeEErE. Fulton,
Schultz, Glass, and Fassig gave a special pleasure in their
support of the urgent need of higher scientific work, whose
importance was insisted on by every member of the conven-
tion. There appeared to be a wide diversity of opinion as to whether meteorology should be introduced 8s a special study
into the public schools, owing to the present crowded condi-
tion of the curriculum, but there was no doubt but that the
lower grades of public schools really demanded the study of
the clouds, the weather, the thermometer, and other simple
matters as being appropriate branches of the so-called study
of nature. These are items of knowledge that should be
familiar to every citizen, and they are items picked up by
the children very easily without adding a moment to the time
devoted to the study of books. They are taught as object lessons by what may be called kindergarten methods. The
advantages to be derived from giving systematic popular lec-
tures to farniers institutes and other such gatherings were
specially dwelt upon by Messrs. J. Warren Smith, E. w. McGann, and J. S. Hazen. Of course to be a good lecturer
one must have a clear voice and distinct utterance or articu-
lation, and those who give the most attention to vocal culture
will undoubtedly succeed best as lecturers and represent the
Bureau most efficiently for the public. Problems of climate
in its connection with diseases, vegetation, and all forms of
animal life were presented by a number of papers, and the
general impression left upon the audience was that, notwith-
standing their complexity these must eventually yield to the
persevering studiee of well trained specialists. Under the
heading of Forecasts, ten minutes was especially assigned to Mr. Harvey M. Watts, of the Philadelphia Press, who gave
us a most valuable and stirring address on the many points
in reference to which improvements can be made in the work
of the Bureau and its relations to the daily press. The ad- dress was marked by all of the energy, incisiveness, and
earnestness of which Mr. Watts is such a master, and was
received with unliounded applause and a hearty vote of
thanks from every member. There was not as much time to give to the general discus-
sion as was universally desired, and, as this want of time is
likely to be always a hindrance, the Editor heard several
state that it might Le better to have i t known beforehand
that iiiitial ten minute papers, followed hy one or two well
prepared five iniuute papers, would be esprcted to cover the
subject. But, nndouhtedly, the inajority desire a freer vol- untary discussion, and many expressed the sentiment that
the second and third prepared papers could be omitted, and
that the whole subject covered by any initial paper should
be irninediate~y thrown open to general discussion to be fol-
lowed i n each case by a vote espreseive of the general opinion
of the coilvention on the merits of the question. The seventh section, or the session of August 29, was oc-
cupied IJY remarks froin numerous representatives of exten-
sive mercantile interests. Of these the Editor was most
deeply impressed by the address of A h . A. W. Machen of the
United Mates Postoffice Department in charge of the rural
free delivery service. Mr. Machens graphic picture of the
inception and rapid growth of that service was quite fasci-
nating. It lios, of course, with the Secretary of Agriculture
and the Chief of the Weather Bureau to utilize this new
service to the fullest extent in the spread of the morning weather forecast among the rural population. However, it,
appears that we have not been able to keep up with its rapid
growth, and that a large increase in our annual appropriation
will be necessary if we make full use of these new opportu-
nities.
The convention regretted very much the absence of Mr.
John W. Smith, of Boston, J. R. Sage, of Des Moines, and
Prof. R. F. Stupart, of Toronto, but was gratified to listen to
Mr. H. H. Clayton, representing the Blue Hill Observatory.
It was also especially favored by the presence of the Secretary
of Agriculture, whose every word inspired UE anew with that
devotion to agriqultural interests that actuates his every
thought and act.
A lively interest was shown in the revelations brought out
318 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. JULY, 1901
by Dr. 0. L. Fassig in his paper on the daily barometric
wave.
A very successful photograph of the members of the con-
vention was taken on Thursday, noon, copies of which, on the
ecaleof 17 by I1,can be had for $1.25 by applying to Mr.W.M. Wilson, Section Director, Milwaukee, Wis. We take pleasure
in adding to our illustrations of the current number of the
REVIEW a reduced print of this interesting picture, Plate I.
WEATHBR BUREAU MEN AS INSTRUCTORS.
Mr. John R. Weeks, Observer, Weather Bureau, addressed
the State Convention of Cotton Growers that met a t Macon,
Ga., on July 12. Upon his invitation, many of the delegates
visited the local Weather Bureau office for the purpose of
familiarizing themselves with the general work of the Na-
tional Weather Bureau.
UOFEUGENDA.
MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW for June, 1901, make the fol-
On page 253, column 2, line 6 from bottom, for  0110~-
On page 263, column 2, line 7 from bottom, for  division
On page 257, column 1, note at bottom of table, omit  the
On page 263, column 2, line 29, for marked read
On page 265, colnmn 2, line 16 from bottom, for  lunis-
On page 268, column 1, line 29 from bottom, for one-fifth
On page 268, column 2, line 5 from bottom, for  five thou-
lowing corrections:
ing ) read u preceding.
is l1 read  divisions are.
sea.
 masked.
tice  read  lunisticii.
per cent  read  1.5 per cent.
sand million ) read  twenty-five thousand million.
TBE WEaTBER OF TEE MONTH.
By P. C. DAY, Actlng Chief Division Meteorological Records.
OHARAUTERISTICS OF THE WEATHER FOR JULY.
The one overshadowing feature of the weather for the
month was the long and practically unbroken period of in-
tense heat and drought that prevailed during the month over
the great central valleys of the country.
The blighting effect of the merciless rays of the sun day
after day, supplemented by an almost entire absence of rain-
fall, threatened the great agricultural regions with ruin so
widespread and disastrous as to be scarcely estimated.
Rains and cooler weather the last few days of the month,
however, materially changed the outlook and modified to
some extent the effects of the most widespread and disastrous
hot wave and drought in the history of the country.
-- -ot----
PRESSURE.
The distribution of monthly mean pressure is graphically
shown on Chart IV and the numerical values are given in
Tables I and VI. Pressure conditions did not differ materially from the nor-
mal, except that the permanent area of low pressure over the plateau and plains region was somewhat intensified and ex-
tended eastward considerably beyond its normal boundaries.
The areas of high and low pressure that moved across the
country were generally ill-defined and lacking in energy, in
fact, a notable feature of the month was the inconsequential
barometric changes from day to day and the resulting stag-
nation of the lower strata of the atmosphere. Cornpared with the normal, pressure for July was slightly in escess over
a narrow strip along the immediate Atlantic coast from
Florida to the Maritime Provinces of Canada and along the
extreme northern edge of the Great Lakes. Over the remain-
der of the country pressure was below the average, attaining
a maximum departure below of from 0.10 to 0.15 inch over the
Great Basin and Plains region.
Over the region extending from the Rocky Mountains west-
ward to the Pacific and from the lower lakes eastward and
southeastward to the Atlantic coaat, the pressure for July Waf
generally lower than for the previous month. Over the val- leys of the Mississippi and Missouri, the southern Plateau
region and the upper lakes pressure was slightly in excess of
that for June.
!CEMPERATURE OF THE AIR.
The distribution of monthly mean surface temperature, as deduced from the records of about 1,000 stations, is shown on
Chart VI.
The hot wave of July, 1901, over the central valleys, em- bracing the great corn belt of the United States, had ite
inception in the latter part of June and continued with
scarcely a break till about the 27th of July, making a record
of continuous heat that will probably be the standard for
future years. During this period the sky was practically free from clouds, and day after day the unobstructed rays of
the sun were poured upon the parched and sun-dried earth.
Even the nights afforded little relief, for while the absence of clouds ordinarily favors radiation of heat from the earth at
night, normal conditions appeared to be totally suspended
and the air retained its heat during the nights in a manner
that appeared remarkable. Throughout portions of Missouri and eastern Kansas and
Nebraska the daily maximum temperature averaged 100 or
more from the 26th of June to the end of July. At Beaver City, Nebr., from June 23 to July 31, inclusive, the maxi-
mum temperature averaged 104O, and only on three days
during the entire period of thirty-nine days, did the maxi-
mum temperature fall below looc. At Columbia, Mo., from June 22 to July 26, inclusive, a period of 34 days, the maxi-
mum temperature averaged over looo, records probably unsur-
passed in the history of the country, except in the desert
portions of southern California and Arizona. Throughout all the great corn-growing States of the central-west all pre-
vious records, both of the monthly means and maximum
temperature were exceeded, and yet a surprising feature of
the crop conditions a t the end of the month was that so
large a proportion of the unmatured crops had stood the
fiery ordeal so long without more material injury.
Compared with the normal, the temperature for July was
everywhere in excess, except a narrow strip along the Pacific
coast and over limited areas of eastern Georgia and the Flor-
ida Peninsula. Over all the region from the Appalachian to
318 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. JULY, 1901
by Dr. 0. L. Fassig in his paper on the daily barometric
wave.
A very successful photograph of the members of the con-
vention was taken on Thursday, noon, copies of which, on the
ecaleof 17 by I1,can be had for $1.25 by applying to Mr.W.M. Wilson, Section Director, Milwaukee, Wis. We take pleasure
in adding to our illustrations of the current number of the
REVIEW a reduced print of this interesting picture, Plate I.
WEATHBR BUREAU MEN AS INSTRUCTORS.
Mr. John R. Weeks, Observer, Weather Bureau, addressed
the State Convention of Cotton Growers that met a t Macon,
Ga., on July 12. Upon his invitation, many of the delegates
visited the local Weather Bureau office for the purpose of
familiarizing themselves with the general work of the Na-
tional Weather Bureau.
UOFEUGENDA.
MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW for June, 1901, make the fol-
On page 253, column 2, line 6 from bottom, for  0110~-
On page 263, column 2, line 7 from bottom, for  division
On page 257, column 1, note at bottom of table, omit  the
On page 263, column 2, line 29, for marked read
On page 265, colnmn 2, line 16 from bottom, for  lunis-
On page 268, column 1, line 29 from bottom, for one-fifth
On page 268, column 2, line 5 from bottom, for  five thou-
lowing corrections:
ing ) read u preceding.
is l1 read  divisions are.
sea.
 masked.
tice  read  lunisticii.
per cent  read  1.5 per cent.
sand million ) read  twenty-five thousand million.
TBE WEaTBER OF TEE MONTH.
By P. C. DAY, Actlng Chief Division Meteorological Records.
OHARAUTERISTICS OF THE WEATHER FOR JULY.
The one overshadowing feature of the weather for the
month was the long and practically unbroken period of in-
tense heat and drought that prevailed during the month over
the great central valleys of the country.
The blighting effect of the merciless rays of the sun day
after day, supplemented by an almost entire absence of rain-
fall, threatened the great agricultural regions with ruin so
widespread and disastrous as to be scarcely estimated.
Rains and cooler weather the last few days of the month,
however, materially changed the outlook and modified to
some extent the effects of the most widespread and disastrous
hot wave and drought in the history of the country.
-- -ot----
PRESSURE.
The distribution of monthly mean pressure is graphically
shown on Chart IV and the numerical values are given in
Tables I and VI. Pressure conditions did not differ materially from the nor-
mal, except that the permanent area of low pressure over the plateau and plains region was somewhat intensified and ex-
tended eastward considerably beyond its normal boundaries.
The areas of high and low pressure that moved across the
country were generally ill-defined and lacking in energy, in
fact, a notable feature of the month was the inconsequential
barometric changes from day to day and the resulting stag-
nation of the lower strata of the atmosphere. Cornpared with the normal, pressure for July was slightly in escess over
a narrow strip along the immediate Atlantic coast from
Florida to the Maritime Provinces of Canada and along the
extreme northern edge of the Great Lakes. Over the remain-
der of the country pressure was below the average, attaining
a maximum departure below of from 0.10 to 0.15 inch over the
Great Basin and Plains region.
Over the region extending from the Rocky Mountains west-
ward to the Pacific and from the lower lakes eastward and
southeastward to the Atlantic coaat, the pressure for July Waf
generally lower than for the previous month. Over the val- leys of the Mississippi and Missouri, the southern Plateau
region and the upper lakes pressure was slightly in excess of
that for June.
!CEMPERATURE OF THE AIR.
The distribution of monthly mean surface temperature, as deduced from the records of about 1,000 stations, is shown on
Chart VI.
The hot wave of July, 1901, over the central valleys, em- bracing the great corn belt of the United States, had ite
inception in the latter part of June and continued with
scarcely a break till about the 27th of July, making a record
of continuous heat that will probably be the standard for
future years. During this period the sky was practically free from clouds, and day after day the unobstructed rays of
the sun were poured upon the parched and sun-dried earth.
Even the nights afforded little relief, for while the absence of clouds ordinarily favors radiation of heat from the earth at
night, normal conditions appeared to be totally suspended
and the air retained its heat during the nights in a manner
that appeared remarkable. Throughout portions of Missouri and eastern Kansas and
Nebraska the daily maximum temperature averaged 100 or
more from the 26th of June to the end of July. At Beaver City, Nebr., from June 23 to July 31, inclusive, the maxi-
mum temperature averaged 104O, and only on three days
during the entire period of thirty-nine days, did the maxi-
mum temperature fall below looc. At Columbia, Mo., from June 22 to July 26, inclusive, a period of 34 days, the maxi-
mum temperature averaged over looo, records probably unsur-
passed in the history of the country, except in the desert
portions of southern California and Arizona. Throughout all the great corn-growing States of the central-west all pre-
vious records, both of the monthly means and maximum
temperature were exceeded, and yet a surprising feature of
the crop conditions a t the end of the month was that so
large a proportion of the unmatured crops had stood the
fiery ordeal so long without more material injury.
Compared with the normal, the temperature for July was
everywhere in excess, except a narrow strip along the Pacific
coast and over limited areas of eastern Georgia and the Flor-
ida Peninsula. Over all the region from the Appalachian to
f