Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-07-28


AccoNru HE'D BY IT.
PRO-. Maury in Hsrpcr's Magazine for Augus. !
Although the Signal Service is vet in its
infancy, and must be patiently nursed and
cherished by the people for some years be-
fore 1t can expect to do and discharge its full
mission. under Gen Myers indeiatigable care
and skillful management it has already ac-
hievcd much good, and more than compensa-
ted the public for the expense ofits establish
ment. Since it was instituted last Summer
1.-THE chief signal officer has to quote the
words Of the New York World, thoroughly
organized and equipped a system which now
embraces IN Its scientific grasp every part Of
the land from Sandy Hook to the Golden Gate
Of California, and from Key West to the Do
minion Of Canada
Three times every day synchronous obser-
vatons arc taken and reports made from the
stations-one at S a. m, one at p. M. and
the third at midnight These observations
are made by instruments, all of which arc
perfectly adjusted TO a standard at Washing
tor ihey are also all taken at the same
moment exactly, these observations and re-
ports being also 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 central office in Washington.
These reports are limited to fixed number
Of words, and the time of their Transmission
Is also fixed number of seconds These
reports are not telegraphed in figures, but an
ir0rds tuly spelled ont. There are now
about forty-fvg stations for which provision
has been made, and which are in rinning
order. These have been chosen or located at
points from which reports cf observations
will be most useful as Indicating the general
barOmetric pressure, or the approach and
force Of storms, and from which storm warn
ings, as the atmospheric indications arise,
may be forwarded with greatest dispatch t.
imperiled ports.
These stations are occupied by expert OBJ
servers furnished with the best attainable in
struments, which are every day becoming
more perfect, and to which other instruments
are being added
The reports Of Observers are yet limited to
a simple statement Of the readings Of all Their
instruments, and Of any meteorological facts
existing at the station when their tri-daily
report Is telegraphed to the central Office in
Washington
Each observer at the station writes his re
port on mGnJOh PAPER. One copy he pre-
serves, the other he gives TO the telegraph
operator, who tcegraphs the contents to
Washington. The preserved copy is a vouch-
er for the report actually sent by the observer;
and if the operator is careless and makes
mistake, he can not lay the blame on the
observer, who has a copy Of his report, which
must be fac-simile Of the one hc has handed
to the operator. The preserved copy is after
ward forwarded to Washington by the
ohserver-sergeant, where it is fled, and finally
bound up in q volume for future reference.
When all the reports from the various sta
tons have been received they arc tabulated
and handed to the officer prof. Abbe) whose
duty is to write out the synopsis and dedgcc
the probabilities. which IN a few minutes
are to be tolegraphed to the press all over
the country.
This is a work Of thirty minutes. The
bulletin Of probabilities, which at present
is all that is undertaken. is made out thrice
daily-in the forenoon, and after the mid
and studied out by the accomplished gentleman
and able meteorologist who is at the head
Of this work.
The probabilities Of tie weather for the
ensuing day, 50 soon as written ont by the
Professor, are Immediately telegraphed TO all
newspapers in the country which are willing
to publish them for the benefit of their read
ers.
Copies Of the telcgrams of d" probabilities
are also instantly sent to all boards of trade,
chambers ofcommerce, merchants exchanges,
scientific societies, etc, and to conspicuous
places, especially sea-ports, all over the
country.
While the Professor Is preparing his bal-
lctins from the reports Just furnished him by
Telegraph, the sergeauts are preparing maps
which shall show by arrows and numbers cx-
acly what was the mcteorologic condition Of
the whole country when the last reports were
sent in. These maps are printed in quanu-
ties, and give all the signal stations. \
dozen copies are laid on the table with sheets
Of carbon paper aerwoen them, and arrow
stamps strike in them (by the manifold pro
cess) the'direct0n Of the wind at each station.
The other observations as 10 temperature,
harometric pressure, etc, are also IN the
same way put on them.
These maps are displayed at various
conspicuous points in Washington-e q . at
the War Department. Capitol. observatory.
Smithsonian Institute and office of the chief
signal officer. They serve als3 as perfect re-
cords Of the weather for the day and hour
indicated on them. and arc bound up in
book for future use.
Every report and paper that reach the sig
nal O.Hee is carefully preserved on file, SO
that at the end of each year the Office posses
every day in the year, or nearly $4,000 ob
seryations, besides the countless and continu
Gus records from all its selfrcgiztering mstru-
mCnts.