Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-14
wEArHER CLERKS.
The u. s. signal Service.

The q. s. Signal Service.
Few people are aware of the import ant
service rendered the commerce of this coun-
try by the weather observations taken daily
by the Government, that is, outside of the
class directly interested therein.
The Signal Service has been in operation
less than two years, having been establish
ed in 1870, the first observations being
taken on the first day of November of that
year. The idea was originated by Mr. j.
a. Laphan, of Milwaukee, Wis.,, who pre-
vailed upon the Congressman representing
that district to bring the matter before Con-
gress, and as the subject was presented in
very clear, lucid manner, the advantages |
which would result from carrying the idea
into practice were seen at once, and bill |
authorizing it being passed, stations We're
established at various points. The business
is now thoroughly systemstized and is un-
der the control of Colonel and Brevet Brig. |
Gen. A. j. Myers, whose headquarters are |
at Washington City. There are now
SEVENTY FIVE STATIONS
established, and others are teing establish
ed. Nest of the stations have two observ-
ers. This is the case with all those where
full observations are made. The Rocky
Mountain stations have but one, as the
duties of the observers there are confined
to telegraphing to Washington indications
of storms, and one or two daily dispatches.
II NAV be stated as matter not generally
known, that the storms we have on this
portion of the Continent, have their origin
either in the Rocky Mountains, or in the
West Indias.
The kilograms OF the weather observers
take precedence, when the wires are crowd
ed. of all others. Even election returns are
no exception. When the matter was first
determined upon, the officers who had it in
charge, sent notice to all the telegraph COM
panies, and asked bids for the contract for
sending the messages. The Western Union
Company off red to do the work
the first three months for nothing,
which offsr was accepted. At the
end of thai time, q contract was made
with the Western Union for specified
time. at the termination OF which contract
the telegraph company asked for an increase
of rates, to which some objection was made,
but the demand was finally acceded to and
another contract entered upon, which ter
| minated the 1st of July last. A further in
crease of rates being applied for by the tel
| epraph company, and the appropriation
|
! limited, an arrangement was made with the
Atlantic and Pacific Company and the tel
egrAms are now being sent over the wires
Of that company, but as the Western Union
have much better facilities and control
greater length of line, IL is quite probable
that when the requisite appropriations are
made that contract viii De made WIN tne
last named company.
THE DUTIES OF OBSERVERS
are as follows: Six daily observations are
made-three being made Oy local time and
three by Washington time, the latter being
te egrsphed TO Washington in ciphers, and
are called ''syncronous observations"
| These are taken at 1885 A. NJ, 4:25 P. NJ,
and IL P NJ. 1t is from these observations
that the representations are made out 81
J Washington and telegraphed all over the
country. The other observations are taken
for the use of the local press, to be posted
up, and otherwise brought to the notice OF
the public In largeEcities
CAREFULLY PREPARED MAPS
are printed every day and scattered about
in the hotels and places Of puclic resort.
By an examination of one of these maps
one can see just the kind Of weather
" hich is being experienced all over the
United States at given hour, the direction
of the wind and It's velocity, the height OF
It's barometer and thermometer, the fact OF
rain, snow, hail or sleet falling, as well as
clear weather all being indicated by certain
symbols, which are fully described on the
margin. In rooms occupied by
BOARDS OF TRADE,
a large map is hung on the wall, and each
davis variations are marked by symbol;
similar to those used on the small maps
with the exception that instead OF being
printed, they are attached to the map bJ
means of screws, and are so arranged that
they can be easily changed. synopsis
the state of the weather for the past TWEEN
ty-four hours together with the prooabilltie!
for the next twen.y-four, is also given
INSTRUMENTS USED.
The following are the instruments used
Barometer, thermometer, hygrometer, lin.
dicsting the evaperatiVe power of the air,
thermometer, to test the velocity of the
wind. and the anemescope, or wind vane
all of which instruments work by electrici
ty and are self recording. There is also q
rain gauge used for measuring the rain
fall. The
DIFFERENT STRATA OF CLOUDS
are described by the observers in their tele
grams to Washington, with the velocity
with which the upper and lower clouds re-
spectively are moving, and the direction, by
, which means "Old Probabilities" is able u
calculate the direction and force OF the Off
: farent currents of air, which is OF great
service to him in making out his prognos
ticatiOns.
THE BENEFITS
of the signal service are ncalculable. Il
, our seaport and lake shore cities the bulle
tins are carefully studied, and the move
: ments of outgoing vessels entirely regulates
thereby, But our commercial int rest
not the only one benefited. The farmer
: throughout the country derive great 40
vantage therefrom, and as the rise and ia
: OF our rivers is also given, steamboatmel
! are furnished with great deal OF Valuaol
information.
The system has been in operation in Eng
land since 1861, and has become so populs
a there that no thought of abandoning 1t ha
ever been entertained, and our experlenc
/ in this country will, no doubt, be the same
and in a dozen years from this time, W
, will wonder how we ever got along withcu
the signal service.
! Our thanks are due Lieut.. W. s. Kaui
man, the efficient Observer in this city, 10
a the facts embodied in the foregoing.
ATTEMPTED HOnICIDE-