New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-23

Grad which seemed 10 govern the movement OF
storms across the continent over portions Oh H. the
first Probabilities" sent out, not without some
msgiylngs on the part Of the Chief Signal officer. "a
much regard to its popular reception as to tho iuh'
ment of Its predictions. These Probabilities were,
for time a mystery 10 readers and 1t was supposed
they were founded on guesses but those who studied
them with care forced to admit That Ola PfoOan-
ties" guessed with wonderful accuracy. The whole
secret was for the Signal Bureau has, rom 'ho
first taken the public into its confidence the system
of charts it had introduced; the laws IL hau
discovered; the manner in which productions
were made were all explained at length IN
the newspapers and magazines, and everybody VINO
took the pains to read obtained at least genea khoW
edge OF the working OF the Bureau More recently INC
abors OF the Bureau have been extended warning SIX
nails are displayed at all the principal sea anu aAo
ports when dangerous storms are approaching esno'S
and low water In the great rivers are reported; and
last OF all the approach OF frost was predicted IN inc
Mississippi Valley and eastern portion OF the unlted
States at the opening OF the present Winter and the law
governing great changes in temperature discovered
The signal Service Bureau, popularity known as the
Weather Office" has during the short time that IL mas
made meteorolOgy its chief study, gained two great VIC
tories. has the confidence Of the people III It's
predictions and has gained the respect of scientific
men the service has rendered to science All over
the United States, wherever there is telegraph station
and a daily newspaper, a summary Is printed OF the
weather for the last hours and the Probabilities
for the coming day or night. These predictions OF
which CO per cent verified last year. have In II cases
in hundred this year, proved correct, and mariners
and farmers, and other classes OF men whose bust
ness is affected by the weather, have governed
their movements largely by them. single illustration
Will show the practical value to of these re-
ports The observer at Buffalo gave 1t to the Board OF
Trade as his opinion in afternoon before the severe
gale on the lakes early in October that 1t would be I'M
safe for vessels to 20 out Lake Enc that night Early
In the evening orders came from Washington to display
dangersgnas Twentythree vessels and barges, ready
to SAIL stayed in port and escaped the disaster which
would surely have Overtaken of Them The public
confidence in the accuracy of the predictions of tho
Bureau equally great at all the lake ports as well as
along the Atlantic Coast and on the Gulf
It's perhaps too early, TO the value OF the
scientific discoveries made by the Signal Service Bureau
II has been predicted that Gen. Myer and his able corps
Of assistants will yet map out the currents OF the air
and Law down the laws that govern their movements
with as much precision as Lieut.. Maury has made charts
of the ocean currents; and triumph like TINS would be
no more wonderful than the progress which has been
made in the two years that have just passed. Inc
Weather Bureau has not attained its present sue cess ana
popularity without surmOuntng great Oo'tdcles ltsu
fcent appropriations hdmpeTed II Tor the uFst year
ana limited the field OF It's operations An uhiOItu.
nate misunderstanding with the western Uhlon
suspension OF operations last Summer and for several
months stopped the reports from many important 5t"-
Dns The merits of this controversy, which caused
transfer OF The Geographic business OF the Bureau TO
rival company, will probably be settled by congress
drg the coming session Besides all this. young men
with no knowledge of their duties have had to be ~
sructed meteOrOogy ana taught to make correct Oh
generously with this Bureau when apprOpriatng money
Tor It's support. The amount OF work performed during
expenditures, and the country could now III afford TO
have it crippled by mistaken parsimOny.