Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-08-04


will not be apt to forget who fastened and
who broke their chains.
OPERATIONS or THE SIGNAL SERVICE
BUREAU.-Although the Signal Service is
yet in its infancy, and must be patiently
nursed and cherished by the people for
some years befi re it can expect to do and
discharge its full mission, under General
Myers indclatigable care and skillful
management it has already achieved much
good, and more than compensated the pub
lie for the expense of its establishment.
Since il was instituted last summer 'the
chief signal officer has, to quote the words
of the New York Worid, "thoroughly or
ganizcd and equipped system which now
embraces in its scientific rasp every part
of the land from Sandy Hook to the Golden
Gate of California, and from Key West to
the Dominion Of Canada"
Three times every day synchrouour OBJ
servations are taken and reports made from
the stations-one ut < "a. m, one at =. M,
and the third mt midnight. These observa-
tions are made by instruments all of which
are perfectly adjusted to a standard at
Washington. They are also all taken at
the same moment exactly, these observa-
tions and reports being slso timed by the
standard of Washington time. The reports
from the stations are transmitted in full by
telegraph. BY combination of telegraphic
circuits, the reports of observations made
at different points spontaneously are
rapidly transmitted to the different cities
at which they are to be published. They
are, however, all sent Of course to the cen
trail Office in Washington. These reports
are limited to a fixed number of words,
and the time of their transmission is also
Mxed number of seconds. These reports
are not telegraphed in figures, but IN wcrd'
fully spelled out. There are now about
forty-tive stations for which provision has
been made, and which are in running OF der.
These have been chosen or located at points
from which reports of observations " III he
most useful as indicating the general baro-
metric pressure, or the approach and Gurce
OF storms, and from which storm warn
ings, as the atmospheric indications arise,
may be forwarded with greatest di~I ulch
to mperiled ports.
These stations are occupied by exl cert OH
servers furnished with the best attaiuuble
instruments, which are every day bccom-
ing more perfect, and to which other in
struments are being added.
The reports of observers are as yet Init
cd to n simple statement Of the readi 3, of
all their Instruments, and of any metCuro-
logical facts existing a the station when
,.. Ill, = l. a. ~
central office in Washington.
Each observer at the station writes his re-
port on mdnVold paper. One copy he pre-
serves, another he gives TO the tolegl phi
operator, who telegraphs the contents to
Washington. The preserved copy is a
voucher for the report actually sent by the
observer; and if the operator is careless
and makes mistake, he cannot lay the
blame on the observer, who has a copy OF
his report, which must be fac-simile OF
| the one he has handed to the operator. The
| preserved copy is afterward forwarded by
| the observ sergeant to the office in Wash
ington, where it is filed, and finally bound
| upon volume for future reference.
When all the reports from the various
stations have been received they are tabu-
lated and handed to the officer professor
synopses and deduce the probabilities, -
which in a few minutes are to be telegraph
ed to the press all over the country.
| This is wark Of thirty minutes. The
| bulletin of probabilities which at pre-
sent is all that is undertaken, is made out
thrice daily--in the forenoon, afternoon
and after the midnight reports have been
received, inspected, and studied out by the
accomplished gentleman and able meteoro-
logist who is at tho head of this work.
The "probabiities'' Of the weather for the
ensuing day, SO soon as written out by the
Professor, are Immediately telegraphed tc
all newspapers in the country which are
willing to publish them for the benefit ol
| their readers.
Copies of the kilograms of probabilities
are also instantly sent to all boards o
trade, chambers Of commerce, merchants
exchanges scientific societies, etc., and tC
conspicuous places, especially sea ports, all
over the country.
While the Professor is preparing his
bulletins from the reports just furnished
him by telegraph the sergeants are prepar'
ing maps which shall show by arrows and
numbers exactly what was the metcorolo
gic condition of the whole country wher
the last reports were sent In. These maps
are printed in quantities, and give all the
signal stations. A dozen copies are laid OF
the table with sheets Of cqrb0n paper be
tween them, and arrow stamps strike il
them (by the manifold process the direc
ton of the wind at each station. The othe
observations as to temperature, barometri
pressure, etc, etc, are also in the sam,
way put on them.
These maps are displayed at various con
spicuous points in Washington. g., a
the War Department, Capitol, Observa
tory, Smithsonian Institution, and Office o
the chief signal officer. They serve also a
perfect records of the weather for the da!
and hour indicated on them, and are boun'
up in a book for future use.
Every report and paper that reaches tn
Signal ONCE is carefully preserved ON file
SO that at the end of each year the ofiic
possesses a complete history Of the meteo
rology of every day in the year, or nearl
5000 observations, besides the counties
, and continuous records from all of Its sell
I registering instruments.-ProG Y. !
Many in Hdrper'S MdSGzine for Augus
A NEW MOTIVE PowER.-Two citizen
| of Easton, Pa, Samuel Phillippi aud Co