Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-12-23
THE SIGNAL SERVICE BUREAU.
How Storms are Reported.

EkOW StOf1nS are Reported.
Our readers are every morning informed
in the CHRONICLE of the probabilities OF
the weather for the day before them. AS
all do not, perhaps, realize how these re-
ports are made up, and upon what princi-
pies, we give some facts explaining these
operations, which we have prepared with
care:
Within a few years past meteorology
has made rapid progress and has risen to
the dignity of q true science. The inven-
ton and perfection of the barometer and
thermometer has brought it within the
power of man to grasp and unfold the laws
of certain phenomena which are continu-
ally occurring within the region of our at
mosphere. Thus it has been determined
that storms move with a degree of regu-
larity and according to q fixed law by
which their progress and destination can
be determined in advance of their arrival.
AS these became developed it was per-
ceived that great practical advantage might
be taken of them. Accordingly about one
year ago the United States Signal Service
was established by the General Govern
ment. It's prime object was the protection
of shipping OH our lakes and sea-coasts
from the destructive effect of those dread
full storms and cyclones which annually
destroy thousands of lives and sweep away
millions of dollars worth of property.
To accomplish this a signal corps was
organized as a division of the United States
army. and observers were stationed at fa-
vorable points all over the country from
Maine to California and from Key West to
the head of the great lakes.
All these stations have telegraphic COM
municatiOn with a chief signal office at
Washington, and three times day at ex-
actly the same moment, Washington time,
the state of the weather is noted by aid of
the proper instruments, and telegraphed
to the officer in chief. When these are re-
ceived, the situation in all parts of the
United States is at once cOmprehended by
the head weather man, and if a storm
is raging in any section, its law is SO well
understood that cautiOnary signals are at
once ordered to be given on the routes which
il will pass over. For example, a great
many of our storms are formed on the
plains, just east of the Rocky mountains,
and sweeping over the Mississippi valley
increase in fury till they reach the lakes,
and finally pass off from the Atlantic coast.
These storms moving, as is now well de-
termined, in the character of vast whirl-
winds, do not proceed forward as fast
as might be at first supposed. 1t is their
by its velocity and not their real progress.
Therefore it may be several days after
storm rises at the Rocky mountains before
it finally leaves the continent at New
Foundland and is lost i'll tile Atlantic
Ocean.
During all this time the 1ffice at Wash
ington is continually apprised of its pro-
gress and location by dispatches from the
various signal stations and forecasts of its
time of arrival at other points are tele-
graphed sometimes twenty-four or forty
eight hours ahead.
This has been done in numerous in
stances, and hundreds of vessels and thou
sands of lives have been saved by the
timely warming. Every American storm
usually comes from one of three directions.
In the first place cyclones from the West
India Islands in following the track of the
Gulf stream frequently send out oft-shoots
up the South Atlantic coast. The force of
these is generally broken against the sum-
its of the Blue Ridge and Alleghanies.
They sometimes ravage the coast as far
north as New York and Nova Scotia.
The second system move north from the
Gulf of Mexico through Texas and Louis
lana and throughout the extent of the Mis-
sissippi valley. while the third come from
the region of the Rocky mountains and.
passing eastward reach the Atlantic.
These last, it is thought, probably have
their first origin on the coasts of China and
Japan, in the very nursery of the tenn
pest and typhOon," and following the
ocean currents across the Pacific finally
reach the California coast.
Weather prognOstication is no longer
matter of guess work, but thing of GER
tainty, No longer may it be said : the
wind bloweth where it listeth and ye hear
the sound thereof; but know not whence it
or whittier it goeth." The light
ming of the telegraph distances the fleetest
hurricane, aud the wisdom of man marks
its pathway. $500