The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-09-13
Our 0lio.
Our Weather Bureau.

The idea of weather signal service is
almost as old as history. The ancient
dwellers on the coast of the Mediterranean
and Adriatic used system of storm warn
ings, and the fact that the course of storms
can be traced, and the Importance of noti-
flying both mariner and landsman of their
approach, has ever been recognized by all
civilized peoples But, as most of our
readers know, the present elaborate meth
cd Of reporting the weather and predicting
its changes, is most recent invention
1t is true that as long ago as 1916 Mr..
VIM. G. Red6eld, of New York, argued
the feasibility of using the telegraph for
announcing the approach and force of
storms. In paper on hurricanes, prepar-
ed in that year, he said "In the Atlantic
ports of the United States the approach of
a gale, when the storm is yet on the Gulf
of Mexico, or in the Southern or Western
States, may be made known by means of
the electric telegraph, which probably will
soon extend from Maine to the Mississippi.
This will enable the merchant 20 avoid ex-
posing his vessel to furious gale after
leaving her port.
In 1848 Professor Henry, of the Smith
sonian Institute, adopted Mr. Redfelds
suggestion, prepared plan for the estab-
lishment of regular system of obserya-
tions, and urged upon Congress the useful
ness of providing the means to carry it
out. But nothing decided was brought
about until within the last three years,
during which the Weather Bureau has
suddenly risen to be one of our most inn
portant institutions.
From the commencement Of its opera
tions IFS value has been apparent, and the
rapid strides made toward perfection have
commanded the attention Of all classes Of
citizens. Unlike many other scientific en-
terprises, which deal with what appear as
distractions only to the public mind, this
one is of immediate practical benefit. All
whose business or pleasure are at all de-
yendent upon the weather, are rapidly
learning the value Of the probabilities,
iand there are doubtless few paragraphs in
the daily journals that meet with more at
tention than the weather reports.
To the large class who are daily bene-
fited by these reports, few particulars
concerning the working Of the system un-
der which they are obtained may be of iu-
terest.
According to the statements Of the Chief
Signal Officer, seventy-two stations are
now manned by competent persons, sup
piled with the necessary instruments for
making accurate observations of the wealth.
er. The latter comprise barometer, ther-
mometer, hygrometer, thermometer, ane-
moscope and rain gauge, which shows with
exactness the pressure of the air, temper.
ature, humidity of the atmosphere, force
and direction Of the wind and the amount
of rain fall
These observations are made thrice daily,
when all the instruments mentioned are
read, and their condition, together with
the report Of rain, snow, cloudy, fair or
clear, as the case may be, telegraphed to
the various other stations.
As our readers have doubtless noticed
- ,ne ne"e .opo.'s; We arc ho" Per'ec'ing
such arrangements for the extensionof our
signal service to other countries as will
greatly enlarge its usefulness. The pres
ent territory OF observation Is not sufficient.
storms originate outside OF us and come
inward, and we can get no timely warning.
lhe new stations now being established
abroad VIII do much to remedy this diff
Guilty, and when once uniform system Of
reporting the weather IS perfected all over
the world we may expect that "Old Prob
abilities may almost be entitled to the
newly proposed name.
AS all know who have paid any atten-
tion 70 the subject, the country i divided
py the signal offeers into certain districts
or groups OF states, which are distinguish
ed In their reports by collective name
In order that no one may have the least
trouble In locating himself when examin-
ing the synopses and probabilities we
append list OF the grouping all divisions
with the names by which they are known. |
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Mass
achusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island,
are regarded IS forming the Ntw England
States.
New YORK, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, District Of Columbia
and Virginia, as the Middle States, and /