Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-05
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER u

TUE WEATHER. Everybody knows old
pr,h as he is called, and the following cruvsen,
sed account OF how MS cacula'lohS aEc ''a"' "'''
prove of interest: -. ,
There are sixty-two stations in the nted
States, the extreme outpoStS being Portland,
Me-; Key West, Fla; Galveston. San l'eS''
Portland, Oregon, and Duluth Zach station
is furnished with barometer, shsrmoWetsr'
thermometer, wind vaue, ralu Suage, anemeine
ter, and clock. -,
The barometer is the Greens standard, aud
i always carefully compared with the standard.
+ ! nlacel in room Of uniform temperature,
not heated or too much exposed 10 the sun.
When not in use the cover is kept closed
When an observation is taken 1t Is opened
and the barometer slipped back into the box
The thermometer is hung at the height OF
the eve. in the open air, facing the north IN
such manner that it is always IN the
shade. It is placed so as to avoid the light re,
Hected from surrounding objects, and protected
from rain, snow, aud hail.
The hygrometer is an instrument used 10 de-
terning the degree of moisture 10 the atmoS-
phere 1t is placed IN the same shelter as the
thermometer, and nearlt.
The thermometer is an instrument used to
measure the force and velocity OF the Wind. 1t
is composed of little saucers travelling around
perpendicular iron bar, each after the other
like dog trying to catch his tail. The ane-
mometer is fixed in vertical position upon
poSt of sufficient height to bring it on a level
with the eve of the observer, and must De 10
an exposed position SO as 70 receive Tue lui'
force of the wind.
The wind vane is worked on the same prlncl-
pe as are weathercockS. 1t Is, however, OF
scientific construction, and, by means OF d!al
ar the base, gives with great exactneSs the oil
rection of the wind Ia any point OF the com.
pass.
The rain gauge is placed with the top OF a
funnel. shaped collector foot above the ground.
firmly fixed in a vertical position. 1t Is exam-
ined daily; the amount of water 1t contains
carefully measured with graduated rod, emp
tied, and again fixed in place. The clock,
which is good one, keeps Washington time.
With these instruments, none OF which are
complicated, the humidity of the atmosphere,
force, veloci ty and direction of the vi ind, state
of the thermometer, and all particulars about
the weather, including the inches OF ram tall,
are aScertained in every part OF the United
States.
Observations are made at the several stations
three times each twenty four hours morning,
evening. and midnight As the clocks are all
set by Washington time IN each OF the twenty
TWO stations, all the observations are taken at
the same instant. By II 7. W., everything
being ready at the telegraph otlce, wire on
each circuit is surrendered by the telegraph
company for about ten minutes, and the re-
ports come rafting 10. In about forty minutes
from the time they commence coming they are
all received, when they are marked II nap
of the United States. The state OF the baronl-
eter thermometer, direction OF. the winds, &c,
&c, over the whole country are seen at a
glance and upon this as basis, the "proba-
bities = for the next twenty-four hours are ca !
culated. The reports are received translated,
SET up for the map maps Autographed and
printed, and ready for distribution, and the
whole report in course Of transmission serve
the country within an hour.