Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-11-12
The Weather Pro6abjities at
Washiu0tOu,

The following il . condensed account
oi the manner in which the observations
are made over the country. snd the calcu-
lations Of the probabilities for the next
day are made at Washington
There are siIty.two signal stations in
the United States. the extreme outposts
being Portland. Maine; Key West, Flor
ida; Galveston. San Diego. Portland. Or.
egon, and Duluth. Each station 10 fur.
nishsd with . barometer, Thermometer.
Hygromster. wind vans. rain gauge. an-
emometer. and clock.
The Barometer is the Green's standard.
aud 10 always carefully compared with
lhe standard in the office before issue for
use. 1t is placed in room Of uniform
temperature, not heated. or too much sI-
posed to the sun. When not in use, the
cover is kept closed. When an obserrs-
Lion is taken it is opened. and the bsrom-
ster slipped back into the box.
The Tha momeser hung at the height OF
ihe eye, in the open Air, facing the north.
in such a manner that il 10 always IN the
shade. 1t i. placed SO a. TO avoid the
light reflected from surroundin. objects
and protected from rain. snow nnd hail.
This HygrOmcter is an instrument usso
in determining the degree of moi0urs Ia
The atmosphere. 1t 10 placed in the s.me
shelter as the thermometer. sud near j.
The thermometer is an instrument used
to measure the force and velocity OF the
wind. 1t is composed oil littls ssucsrs
travelling around perpendicular irou
BAR, each after the other. likss dog try
ing to catch his tsi. The auemonister
is fixed Upon vertical post of sufficient
height to bring it on level with the eye
Of the observer. aud must be in an CT
posed position, so ss to receive the full
force OF tho wind.
The Wind rdne is worked on the same
principle as are wssthercocks. 1t is,h how
ever, OF scientific construction, and by
means of dial At the base. gives with
great exactness tho direction OF the wind
in any point Of the compass.
The Rain gauge is placed With the top
oftho funnel. shspsd collector foot above
the surface of the ground. firmly fixed in
vertical position. 1t 10 examined daily !;
the amount of water it contains carefully
measured with graduated rod, smptisd,
and again fixed in piece. The clock.
which is good sps. keeps Washington
Time.
With these instrlments, mono OF which
are complissted, the humidity OF the A.
mosphsre, force, velocity and direction OF
the wind, state OF the thermometer, and
all particulars about the weather includ-
ing the inches of rsin fall. are sscsrtsined
in every part Of tho United States.
Observations are made at the several
stations three times each tvsnty.four
hours. morning, evening and midnight
As the clocks are oil set by Washington
time in each of the sixty.two stations, oil
the observations are taken at the same
instant. By 12P. H., everything being
ready mt the telegraph Office. wire on
each circuit il surrendered by the tels-
graph company Tor about ten minutes,
aud the reports come rattlins in. In
about forty minutes from ths time they
commence coming. they are all received.
when they are marked on the map OF the
United States. The state OF the baromo-
ter, Thermometer. direction of the wind1,
&C., &c., over the whole country, is seen
at glance. and upon this az basis. The
''probsbilities" for the next twenty. four
hours are calculated. This reports are
received, translated, SGT up tor the map,
maps Autographed and printed, nad ready
for distribution, and the whole report in
course OF transmission over tho whole
country within an hour.-N.f. Observer.
The Green Bay post office officials
don't like to answer questions. The iol
lowing, posted over the general delivery
expresses sentiments: "Price OF three
cent stamps. three cents each licked and