Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-12-25
GOLD PROBABILITIES,
The Signal Station In this City-Internal
tf ! ftWorkfngs of the Office.


Ever since the establishment of the signal sta
tions throughout the country and the daily pub
lication of the weather reports, their appearance
have been looked forward to with avidity by
large numbers Of persons, many at first from
mere curiosity, and by others who had an inter-
est in being posted and placed confidence in
their reliability. The Importance of these re-
ports are now appreciated by every intelligent
person and by their instrumentality the ship
ping interests ofthe country have been vastly
benefited.
| But while this is the case, comparatively lew
persons know the manner in which the observa-
tions are taken and the instruments used. Yes
terday afternoon q reporter of the CHRONICLE
visited the signal station in this city under the
supervision of Prof. John X. Payne, and was
fortunate in finding him at leisure, who inn
parted the desired information. In the expla-
nation of the working of the various instruments
| we are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Sperry
Howard Smith, former assistant of Prof
Payne, who is on terms of closest intimacy
with ''old Probs."
We will describe the uses the different ii-
struments in use in rotation;
THE BAROMETER.
This instrument is used to weigh the air and
may be compared in itsaction TO pair of scales;
for just as the column Of air over any given
place becomes greater or less, so does the bar
ometer rise or fall. A low barometer shows
that trough exists in the atmospheric ocean
overhead, while high reading is evidence that
an atmospheric wave has rolled up above US and
as the disturbances of atmospheric equilibrium
are of first importance in predicting coming
weather, so is the barometer the main stay of
the weather observer.
THE THERMOMETER
is in its workings familiar to all and needs no
lengthy description. Taken in connection with
the barometer, it is altogether indispensable to
any well furnished post of observation. !
THE HYGRoMETER
measures the humidity OF the air and consists
of two thermometers, one of which Is kept
damp by piece of muslin communicating with
q cup OF water and hence is known as the wet
bulb" The reading Of each thermometer is
taken and the humidity deduced by means Of
table, When the air is perfectly wet, as in
alike and the humidity will be 100. Could all
the moisture be abstracted from the air the
humidity would be zero. Variations of hu-
midity occur between these two extremes.
THE ANEMoMETER.
This instrument is perhaps the most interest
ing in its mechanical workings of any in use
among weather reporters. Much ingenuity has
Doen expended Dy SClenGl0C IL Ell III oOueaVOr-
ing to avoid the necessity of spending some
time in all weathers in the observation of the
wind gauge. It was left for Sergeant Gibbons,
of the U. s. Signal Service, however, TO invent
an instrument which should combine accuracy
of registration with convenience of observation.
Gibbons self-registering thermometer has already
gained world wide reputation and will ever
remain rs monument to his inventive genius.
But to proceed with the description: The re-
volving arms, noticed by those who pass the
Il ntn
which also revolves, registering miles and
tenths. At each mile division on the dial pin
is inserted, which. each time it passes certain
point, presses against spring and completes
an electrical circuit, the electricity being fur
nished by battery in the observers office.
The wires which complete the circuit sconnect
with recording apparatus, also in the office,
which Is the most intricate portion of the instru-
ment. A drum revolved by clock work is
pressed upon by pencil, which moves lateraly
in the dial of the thermometer, leaving
marks upon the drum. These marks,
added together, give an accurate report of the
number of miles travelled by the wind during
any given time. The direction of the wind is
shown by an ordinary vane.
There only remains to notice
THE PLUvIoMETER
or rain gauge, This consists of copper tube
with funnel-Eke aperture, into which the rain
falls. The measurement is taken by gradual
ed rod which is mathematically adjusted to the
diameter of the tube, and accurately measures
the rainfall.
THE OBSERVERS DUTIES
Prof Payne takes six observations of the
weather each day, three at local time
and three at Washington time. The
Washington time observations are telegraphe6
to the Signal Service Bureau in that city daily
and the local time observations are sent by
mail. The Washington time observations are
taken 1886 a. m, 4:35 and II p. m, and the local
time observations at a. M, 2 and p. IN.
These observations consist in noting the con-
dition of the thermometer the height of the
barometer, the state of the hygrometer or wet
bulb thermometer, the velocity and force of the
wind as measured by the anemometer, the d.
rection Of the wind as indicated by the anemo-
scope and the indication of the rain guage.
Each of these observations has to be carefully
made and transcribed on blanks made for that
purpose and the whole telegraphed to Wash
ington in cipher. The reason of the use Of
cipher kilograms is, that many words and ex-
pressions can be condensed into one word. As
for an example, to indicate that the height of
the barometer was thirty inches, the word
"fedge'' would be sent. Weekly, monthly and
quarterly reports are made out on blanks fur
nished by the department and forwarded.
When the observations have been made and
sent to Washington, they, with othersobserva-
tions made elsewhere, are carefully compared
and we have as a result the weather ''probabli-
ties" A weather map of the country-show-
ing all the signal stations in the country with
the kind of weather that prevailed the previous
twenty four hours at each-is published daily
by the Signal Service Bureau and sent all over
the world.
KNOXVILLE
is situated 99S feet above the sea level and all
observations are made in accordance Herewith.
The attention called to Knoxville by having
| its climatic advantages set forth in comparison
with other points can but be favorable to
| our locality.
Holidays.
Every body knows the holidays are coming,
| but everybody don't know that Jos. Woods
Jewelry Store is the best place to buy gold and
silver watches American or imported, gold Opera
chains, gold vest chains, gold bracelets, plain
and seal rings, gold lockets, fine gold sets,
pins and earrings and many other articles suit
| able for presents. Don't forget.
| Jos. WOOD,
"a Gay street, next door to Express Office.
14tf