The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-12-04
Weather Report for Farmers.
In his annual report the Chief Signal Officer

In his annual report the Chief Signal Officer
says:
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 distributing point at or near the center from
which two printed copies of the synopsis and
probabilities forwarded by mail to all post
offices within the districts, and which can be
of the same day. This plan has been put in opera
ton with the cooperation of the Post Office De
partment, the bulletins being exhibited in
frames by each Postmaster, at each post office, as
soon as received. and now provides for the regular
distribution daily of 1889 printed copies of the
weather report for display at 4,491 different post
offices. 1t will be extended rapidly 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 in many 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 benef ed have rendered this success pecu-
lisrly gratifying. The whole number of these
So Oh. 'A- pi-i''eN anu Vie
There nineteen special river stations from
which reports of the depth of watern the principal
rivers of the United States are Oily made by tele
graph al 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 water 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 interest
they have advanced. The total number of special
river bulletins issued has been % 80.
By the different modes of publication adopted
for the service, each of which has been arranged
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 161 estab-
lished organizations, Boards of Trade Cham
bers of Commerce, Agricultural Societies, and
wide diffusion, the works of the office of more
scientific character and not intended for daily pop
ular use, have acquired q precision of detail and
fullness Of Illustration which enables them to
pare favorably with those of foreign countries.
The plan and arrangement of these works pc
cular to this country.
vERIFICATIoN OF THE PROBABILITIES.
The ascertained comparative accur" ~ of the de-
ductions from reports styled ''Prob.-Dilities'' has
been more clearly presented in this than in pre-
ced1ng years. The percentage Of veriication has
been mathematicaly computed for each of the
The animal average of verfcations has been as
follows for the following-named districts: New
England, $50; Middle States. S117: South At
lantic, 1872: Lower Lakes, 1880: Eastern Gulf.
77.16; Ohio Valley, 1912; Western Gulf, TAO;
Upper Lakes rs %; Northwest. IA. With a more
| rigid and scrutinizing mode of calculation than
was before adopted, the percentage of vertical
tons has improved.