American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-12-13
Weather Reports for Farmers.

In his animal 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-
tained in the daily weather reports to the many
farming and other communities not 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 having
distributing point at or near the centre from which
TWO printed copies OF the synopsis and probabii-
ties forwarded by mail to all post-oflices within
the districts, and which can be reached by rail-
steamer, or mail coach by p of the
day This plan has been put in operation with
the corporation Of the Post-Oflice Depart
frames by each master. at each post Office.
soon as received and now provides for the regular
weather report. for display 449l different post
Offices IL will be extended rapidly expedient.
The work has given satisfaction TO the farming and
interior population reached. Numerous commune
cations received al the office evidence the fact that
in many localities farming and other agricultural
operations are conducted with reference to the
mosPheric conditions announced in these reports
as probable TO occur. The immense agricultural
interests of the United States and the great re-
suits to be attained if they can be thus benefited
have rendered This success peculiarly gratifying
The whole number of these special bulletins SO far
printed and distributed is saJ.t15.
There are nineteen special river stations from
which reports of the depth of water in the principal
rivers Of the United States daily made by tee-
graph at particular seaso ms, during which dangers
from freshets may be anticipated. River reports
are htu from twenty OF Inc regular stations.
These data are widely published and distributed
along the lines of the rivers. The reports thus
had enabled many dangers which would otherwise
follow rapid rises in the rivers to be guarded
against and contributed. by the constant and &C
curatc knowledge given of the depth of IN
the channels, 10 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 inter
csts they have advanced The total number Of
special river bulletins Issued has been y. 21O
By the different modes Of publication adopted
which he "A AM rp1
with definite purpose, and including that through
the public press, IL Is estimated that the infor-
nation etnanatins from this office reaches daily
one-third OF the households in the United States
The Office Il in regular communication with 161
established organizations, as boards of Trade,
Chambers OF commerce, Agricultural societies
and Commercial Associations. In addition 10 THE
wide diffusion the works of the Office of n scientific
character ami not intended for more daily popular
use, have acquired precision of detail and full
ness of illustration which enables them to compare
favorably win those of foreign countries The
plan and arrangement Of these works peculiar
10 this country.
yERTFIcATrnS OF THE PROBABILITIES.
The a-certalncd comparative accuracy of the de-
ducttons from reports STYLED probabilities" has
been more clearly presented in ths than in proceed
ing years The percentage Of yeriication has been
mat i@na'lcally computed for each of the geo
graphical districts mentioned in the reports. The
emu al average OF vetiicatons hns been follows
Tor me following named districts: New England,
sl.Jp; Middle States silly; South Atlantic - ~;
Lower Lakes - 81; Eastern Gulf. - 16 Ohio Val
ley. 16.i2; Western Gulf, 7I-40; Upper Lakes
scruiinizing mode Of calculation than was before
adopted tn percentage of yerifcaiions has i'm
proved.