Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-11
Weather Reports for Farmers.
In his annual report the Chief Signal ON,

In his annual report the Chief Signal Officer
says:
The Office has, under the direction Of the secre-
tary OF War; continued It's exertions to solve, for
the special benefit OF the agricultural interests,
the problem Of giving promptly the information
contained In the daily weaher reports 70 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 70 divide the territory OF
the United States into districts, each district hav-
ing distributing point at 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 Up. m.
Of the same day This plan has been put In
operation with the cooperation OF the Post
office Department, the bulletins being exhibited In
frames by each Postmaster, at each post-ofice, NJ
a. received, and now provides for the regular
distribution daily Of s,9s2 printed copies Of the
Offices. 1t will be extended ~ rapidly ~ expe-
dent. The work has given satisfaction to the
farming and interior population reached. Numer-
the fact that in many localities farming and other
agricultural operations are conducted with refer
ence to the atmospheric conditions announced In
agricultural interests OF the United States, and the
great results to be attained II they can be thus
benefited, have rendered this success peculiarly
gratifying. The whole number OF these special
bulletins 30 far printed and distributed Is SS5014.
There are nineteen special river stations from
which reports Of the depth OF water In the prnci-
telegraph at particular seasons, during which dan
ger from freshets may be anticipated. River
ports are also had from twenty Of the regular
stations. These OATS are widely published and
distributed along the lines OF the Rivers. The re-
ports thus had enabled many dangers which would
otherwise follow rapid rises In the MYERS to be
guarded against, and contributed, by the constant
and accurate knowledge given Of the depth Of
water In the channels TO the convenience and safety
Of the river commerce. The benefits resulting
from these reports, 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 70 210.
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 II Ia estimated that the informa
ton emanating from this Office reaches daily one
third Of the households In the United States rhe
ONCE Ii In regular communication with 1871 estab
lshed organizations. a. Boards Of Trade, Chambers
OF Commerce. Agricultural Societies and CONNER
cial Associations In addition TO this wide difu-
sion the works Of the Office Of more scientific
have acquired precision Of detail and funess OF
illustration which enables them to compare favora-
bly, with those Of foreign countries. The plan and
arrangement Of these works are peculiar to the
country.
vEBIYIcATIoNs or THE PRoBABrLTrIEs
The .ascertained comparative accuracy Of the de-
auctions from reports styled probabilities has
been more clearly presented In this than In pre-
ceding years. The percentage Of verincation has
esep r , ss q the
The annual average Of yerifcalions has been as
follows for the following named districts: New
England, 10; Middle States, ILL., South Allan
TIC, 10 Ri Lower Lakes, rs. So Eastern Gulf, T.16;
Lakes, 10. Northwest, "a. With more rigid
and scrntinizing mode Of calculation than was be-
fore adopted, the percentages Of yerihcations has
improved.