Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-12-11
Weather Report for Farmers.

In his annual report the Chief Signal Officer
SAYS:
The office has, under the direction of the Secre-
tary of War. continued its exertiOns to solve. for
the special benefit of the agricultural interests. the
problem of giving promptly the information con-
tanned IN the daily weather reports to the many
farming and other communities not now reached
by telegraph. and for which the copies published
by the press do not arrive in time for use. The
plan adopted has been to divide the territory of
the United States into districts. each district hav-
ing a distributing-point at or near the center. from
which two printed copies of the synopsis and
probabilities are forwarded by mail to all post
offices within the districts, and which can be
reached by rail, steamer, or mail-coach by p. m.
Of the same day. This plan has been put in opera
ton with the cooperation of the Post-Ottice De
%partment, the bulletins being exhibited in
frames by each Postmaster, at each post-offce, as
soon as received. and now provides for the regular
distribution daily of 1882 printed copies of the
weather report. for display at 4,491 different post
offices. 1t will be extended as rapidly as expe-
dent. The work has given satisfaction to the
farming and interior population reached. Num-
erOus communications received at the Office evil
dence the fact that ilmany localities farming and
other agricultural operations are conducted with
reference to the atmospheric condition announced
IN these reports as probable to occur. The I'M
mense agricultural interests of the United States.
and the great results to be attained if they can be
thus benefited, have rendered this success pecu-
liarly gratifying. The whole number of these
special bulletins so far printed and distributed is
49,. Ola.
There are nineteen special river stations from
WHICH Reports ol the Ucptu vi NatSI III TX piili'iDdl
rivers of the United States are daily made by tele-
graph at particular seasons, during which danger
from freshets may be anticipated. River reports
are also had from twenty of the regular stations.
These data are widely published and distributed
along the lines of the rivers. The reports thus have
enabled many dangers which would otherwise fol-
|. low rapid rises in the river to be guarded against,
and contributed, by the constant and accurate
knowledge given of the depth of wateri in the chan
nels, TO the convenience and safety of the river
commerce. The benefits resulting from these re-
ports, now in the second year OF their issue, have
been fully acknowledged by the various interests
they have advanced. The total number Of special
river bulletins issued has been % 21o
By the different modes of publication adopted
for the service, each of which has been arranged
with definite purpose. and including that through
the public press, it is estimated that the informa-
ton emanating from the Office reaches daily one
third of the households in the United States. The
office is in regular communication with 16l estab-
lished organizations, as Boards OF Trade, Cham
bers of Commerce, Agricultural Societies. and
Commercial Associations. In addition to this
wide diffusion, the works of the office of a more
scientific character. and not intended for daily pop
ular use, have acquired a precision OF detail and
fullness Of illustration which enables them to COM
pare favorably with those OF foreign countries.
The plan and arrangements of these works are Pc
culiar to this country.
vERIFICATIoN OF THE PROBABILITIES.
The ascertained comparative accuracy OF the Ie-
auctions from reports styled probabilities has
been more clearly presented in this than In pre-
ceding years. The percentage of verifcation has
been automatically computed for each OF the
geographical districts mentioned in the reports.
The animal average of verifcations has been as