Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-18

The daily publication of weather predictions
from the signal Office has convinced many
who were inclined to doubt, that symptoms Of
atmospheric disturbance may be detected and
their results announced several hours before
they manifest themselves by any local indica-
lions The forecasts are not always so exactly
fulfilled that they would serve as narratives if
read after the event; but their general accuracy
is satisfactory evidence that the system is sound
and is capable of great usefulness. Violent dis
turbances which may be dangerous to life and
property, can generally be foreseen in ample
season for taking every possible precaution, I'M
less they are Of local origin and move within
very narrow limits, while the smaller and less
important phenomena of the weather, in
fidenced more or less by the peculiar
conditions Of particular place, are
overlooked in the large operations of
the bureau, whose observations extend over
the whole country, and whose announcements,
in order to lie reasonably brief, must use broad
and general language applicable TO wide areas.
The operations Of the signal office during tine
past year have proved 10 the satisfaction of the
public, that even in those phenomena that have
been considered most mysterious and unac-
countable, nature follows fixed laws which she
willingly reveals to those who will question her
patiently aud intelligently. Ii cannot be said
that any new meteorological laws have vet been
discovered by the signal bureau, though evil
deuce to support previously accepted theories
has been furnished in abundance Systematic
observations, at stations distributed over the
country, the transmission of these by telegraph
and the indications deduced from them in ac-
cordance with ascertained laws, are given to the
press for publication, make up the work of the
signal service.
An additional duty is about TO be assumed by
the signal ofice,-that of displaying cautionary
signals at the various stations and ports through
out the country, whenever, from the information
had at the central office, the probability Of
stormy or dangerous weather has been aecreed
for the port or place where the cautionary sig
nal is displayed, or in that vicinity. The signal
adopted is a red flag with black square in the
centre by day, and a red light by night, and it
signifies generally that dangerous winds are be-
lieyed to be approaching The term dangerous
winds has meaning varying somewhat with
the locality in which the winds occur But as
distinctions cannot readily be made, it has been
decided TO hoist the cautonqry signal whenever
the winds are expected to be as high as twenty
five miles an hour, and to continue at that
velocity for several hours within a radius of one
hundred miles # the station. 1t is expected TO
hold good for the space of eight hours from the
time when it was hoisted. These signals will
probably be of great advantage to shipping IN
the rorts At inferior stations they cannot have
much value, and perhaps will not be used there.
1t is expected that the press will be furnished
daily with a list of the ports at which caution
airy signals have been ordered to be displayed,
and Of those where they have been ordered
down. 1t is designed eventually TO add another
signal warning Of the approach of gales of great
severity, and perhaps Others as experience shall
Justify them