Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-21
qaiIg Aennebee Sournal.
AU G. U T A.
FRIDAY MORNING, OCT. 81. 1870.
NATIONAL WEATHER REPORTS.

NATiONAL WEATHER REPORIS.
I'm February last" says the New York
Post, Congress passed a joint resolution
instructing the Secretary of War to pro-
vide for taking meteorological observa-
tons at military stations and other points
in the United States, and for giving nolice
by telegraph and by signals, on the lakes
and on the seacoast. of the approach ana
force of storms. general order was
issued in March, instructing the Signal
Corps to carry out the intention of Con-
gress; and inviting the cooperation OF all
scientific and commercial associations in
this important work for the protection OF
commerce.
In Europe, systems of weather reports
have been established in several countries,
and in England and France they have
proved to be of great value, often giving
warning of approaching storms in time to
rescue large amounts Of shipping from
impending danger. In the beginning OF
December, 1868, for instance, the reports
to the Paris Observatory showed that a
storm of unusual violence was moving
southwards Notice was given by tele-
graph to the Chambers of Commerce at
Toulon, Marseilles, and through Turin,
to all the ports on the western coast OF
Italy; they were forewarned Of lis ap-
proach and made every thing ready; and
owing to these precautions no damage
was done when the storm came.
In this country, owing to the vast extent
of its territory, unbroken by seas or gulis,
the march of storms is much more regular
than in Europe. 1t has long been known
that in the United States they uniformly
move from the west toward the east or the
northeast, and commonly at a rate which
brings them from the Mississippi river to
New York in about one day; but even
violent storms are sometimes slow in their
progress, and for a time almost stationary.
Their force is fairly measured by the sud-
denness and amount Of the depression of
the barometer. With these principles in
view, and many more which meteorolo-
gists are constantly discovering, it is easy
to see that with constant intelligence from
all parts of the United States as to the
state of the barometer, the appearance OF
the clouds and the direction of the wind,
a competent man of science in Washington
may in most instances, make useful
forecast of the weather at ports on the sea
coast or the lakes, for a day or two in adj
vance; and that his forecast will be most
trustworthey in precisely the cases in
which the need Of it is greatest.
The plan OF the government, for the
present, is limited to the collection of the
facts, and the publication of them, with
such general laws as may seem to be suf-
ficiently established, and may suggest
probable deductions of practical value.
The reports collected from all quarters
will be sent to the newspapers and will
be at once put upon the bulletins of the
Boards of Trade or Merchants Exchanges.
In these places too, meteorological maps
will be posted, on which all changes in
the weather will be noted as reported, so
as to afford general view Of the condi-
ton and disturbance of the atmosphere
throughout the country.
The immediate practical utility of this
system, as protection to shipping, Is
properly made by the War Department
its first object, in accordance with the will
of Congress, as expressed in the law.
But, in the end, it is probable that its chief
value will be found to lie in the immense
contributions it will make to the science
of meteorology. Inquirers in this field
have pointed out the impossibility of es-
tablishing the science on a satisfactory
foundation of general laws until COM
petent men shall have been at work in
concert for a sufficient time, over an i'm
mense extent of country, collecting and
arranging observations. No scientific
body has the means to maintain corps of
trained observers, with instruments ex-
tending across the continent; a great gov
eminent alone can do this and while it
seeks its justification for the outlay in the
protection of commerce, on the same
principle on which it anchors buoys and
builds lighthouses, it may really be max
ing one Of the most splendid of all possible
contributions to the progress of science"
The attempt of Gen. Burnside and other
Americans to bring about peace between
the French and Prussians has not accom-
plished the object. The Prussians We're
more moderate in their demands than they