Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-01-30
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CustOmhOuse and
BrfdEo-BOnded WRrehOuse-RAtI-
roads, Rte.


A regular meeting of the chamber o
commerce was held in their room las
evening at four O'Clock, Judge Henry S
Smith, vice. president, in the chair.
The minutes of the previous regulsI
meeting having been read and adopted
the secretary, Mr.. Trousdale, produced
the following
LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF A
upon the subject Of International weather
reports:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, d. c., January IL, 1872. I
Mr.. h. A. PinsOn, President of the Chamber
of Commerce and Merchants Exchange
Memphis, Tennessee:
Sir-In reply to the communication OF the
Memphis Chamber Of Commerce, without
date, addressed to the President, and enclos.
ing resolutions relative TO international me-
neurological observations, etc, which has been
| referred TO this department, as in charge OF
meteOric observations and reports in the in
terest of commerce, etc, the secretary of war
has the pleasure 10 inform you that the atten-
ton Of the war department had been already
given to the subject Of International systems
OF weather reports as will be seen by reference
to the extracts from the annual report of the
chief signal officer for the year,lS70, aSfollows.
"The plan of circuits, and the working forms
OF circuits, are ~purposely made capable Of an
Indefinite extension. Thus when telegraphic
lines may surround or cross the Caribbean
sea, a circuit added would bring whatever sta
tons might be established ca islands therein
as another group only into cooperation with
the general plan. A Canadian circuit would
extend our meteorological reports through
Canada. A South American group would
give the atmospheric condition of that CONT
nent. The time may come when European,
Astatlc, and American groups Will inter-
change reports by means of the deep-sea
cables. The idea OF a worldwide system Of
Jelegraphic weather reports is not as chimeri-
cal to-day as was thirty years ago the work
ings OF the electric telegraph itself"
IND Frnnn Hhna pnrn1 ann Of fhn uaHan
officer for the year ending November, 1871, as
follows:
with the rapid extension OF Geographic
cables, and the results of g years experience
in the concentration of telegraphtc reports,
the idea of national systems of isOchronal OBJ
s~ervations,to be internationally i~nJerchanged,
referred TO In the last annual report OF this
office, seems easy of realization, 1t is already
certain that, to complete the system of the
United States, stations OF observations should
be had In the West indies, on the Windward
Islands, and at tropical stations in South
America.
1.-The International cooperation Of Spain,
England, France, and Denmark is needed for
this purpose. So far as the service OF the
United States Is concerned, the cooperation
TO be thus desired need extend only to the as
sent 70 the establishment of the stations and
the transmission of the cipher report. An
ample return for this much of courtesy can be
profered in the furnishing to the governments
named, copies OF the observations made for
the service Of the United States, TO each Of
which they are of value.
'In6 DeneuL 70 accrue 10 ali commercial In
~terests, when at the principal ports of any
coast, the meteoric conditions can be found
announced for all that coast, las now IN the
United StatesO or even for the trans-oceanic
coast need not be commented upon."
It has also been IN the view OF the depart
ment TO make these reports available in the
OF agriculture, as appears by the fol-
lowing extract from the report Of TIE a 5ove
mentioned officer for the year 1871:
"The very general expectation of agricul-
turists that, in some way, the duties OF the
in rPfprgncn to the AnprOQrh and fOren nf
storms would be made to contribute to their
interests, has found frequent expression IN
letters and ommuntcauons from societies and
1t has been the desire Of the
ofice to comply with the wishes Of a class so
eminently entitled TO consideration as the
mass of the intelligent farmers of the country,
in so far as was practicable without any d.
version Of the duties of the office. For this
purpose the circular papers forty and forty
one were prepared and have been issued.
Copies Of all meteorological bulletins and the
Weather-charts OF the office are furnished the
of agriculture. The reports necessari-
ly oollated In the publications of the office, |
such as the bulletins at the stations and the
press reports-and these latter reach points as
as well In the interior as upon the coasts-are
sufficient OF themselves 70 enable farmers, as |
well as other classes, to better Judge Of the |
probable weather than they have been able to |
at any time previous 10 the Issue OF such
This incident benent was notcontemplated
AZ the commencement Of the service, and the /
reports were not drawn to produce it. IL seems
kIOUAnA9 LA4hL II AIC laA AGA1 WI I
increasing the humble Of interior stations, a |
corresponding increase OF advantages would
accrue 70 the Inland interests, while a greater
certainty of protection would be had Tor the
coasts with every addition Of stations. The
number OF stations ought TO be largely in
The apapers forty and forty-one," referred to
ire herewith enclosed.
so soon as the service now In execution un-
Ter the resolution of congress, approved Feb
-uary 9Th, 1870, shall have been fully organ.
zed, and sufficient facilities and appropria-
ions can be secured for carrying out the plans
in view, IL is hoped that 1t wall not be
lificult to secure any necessary Inter national
cooperation, in any desirable form which
onger experience in our system and our needs
aay indicate on the part Of those countries
Which Iaay have organized national systems
nd with which connection may be useful
This department Is pleased TO observe . pop
lar feeling so much IN the course already
contemplated by II, and expresses its thank
o the Memphis chamber ofcommerce for the
interest exhibited by the Chamber in his d.
ision Of Its duties. I am sir, you obsdient
WM. W. BELKNAP,
secretary Of War.
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