Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-12-11
Weather Report for Farmers.

In his annual report the Chief Signal ohcer
says:
The Office has. under the direction of the Sccre-
tary Of War, continued its eNcrtions 10 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 hap been to divide the territory Of
the United States into districts, each district hay
ing distributing point at or near the center. from
winch two printed copies OF the synopsis ana
probabilities are forwarded by mail to all post
Offices within the districts, and which can b"
reached by rail- steamer, or mail coach by D. m.
of the same day. This plan has been put in opera
ton with the cooperation of the POst-Othec De-
partmcnt, the bulletins being exhibited IN
frames by each Postmaster, at each post-oiliCc
soon as received, and now provides for the regular
distribution daily of S.9S2 printed copies Of the
weather report. for display M iI91 different post
offices 1t will he extended as rapidly as expc-
dent. The work has given satisfaction 10 the
farming and interior population reached. Num-
erous communications received AZ the office evi.
dcnce the fact that in many localities farming and
other agricultural operations are conducted with
reference to the atmospheric condition announced
in these reports probable to occur. The inn
meuse agricultural interests of the United States,
and the great results TO be attained if they be
thus bcNefted, have rendered this success pecu-
liarly gratifying. The whole number Of these
special bulletins so far printed and distributed Is
SgS Ola
There are nineteen special river stations from
which reports of the depth Of water IN the principal
rivers Of the United States are daily made by lcle-
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 water in the chan
nes. TO the convenience and safety of the river
commerce The benefits resulting from these
ports now in the second year of their issue have
been fully Acknowledged by the various nttrests
they have advanced. The total number OF special
river bulletins issued has been - 30.
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, IL i 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 lGl estab-
ished organizations, az Boards of Trade, Cham
bers Of Commerce, Agricultural Societies, and
Commercial Associations In addition 10 this
wide diffusion. the works Of the Office Of a more
scientific character, and not Intended for daily pop
ular use, have acquired precision Of detail and
fullness Of illustration which enables them to com
pare favorahly with those Of foreign countries.
The plan and arrangcmentof these works are pc
Culiar To this country.
vERlFICATIoN or THE PROBABILITIES,
The ascerained comparative accuracy OF the de
auctions from reports styled probabilities" has
been more clearly presented in this than in pre-
cediug wears The percentage Of vcrhcation has
been Mechanically computed for each OF the
geographical districts mentioned IN the reports.
The animal average of yerifcations has been as
follows for the following named districts: New
England. ~ 80; Middle States, Sly; South At
lantic 70 90: Lower Lakes, 1880; Eastern Gulf,
n. 10; Ohio Valley, 1872; Western Gulf, 7440;
Upper Lakes, Is %: Northwest, a With more
ricid and scrutnzing mode Of calculation than
was before adopted che percentage Of Neritca-
lions has improved.