New-York tribune., 1874-11-30
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
REPORT OF GEN. A. ]. MYER.

TRIBUTIoN OF WEATHER FORECASTS TO THE
FARMING OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES WITH TILE
| LIFE-sAvING SERVICE.
| iTRon A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28-The report of Gen.
A. j. Myer chief signal officer of the army, having in
charge the subject OF national meteorology for the year
1874 has just been presented tho Secretary of War;
and Is document OF unusual interest showing tho
vast extent OF tho operations or the signal SERVICE ana
the thoroughness and efficiency with which they are
prosecuted. together with the great economical and
scientific value of the results attained. 1t Is great
mistake to suppose that the publication Of the probabi
ties OF the weather In daily papers the end and
aim Of the organization OF this branch Of the Govern
ment service This s to be sure one feature OF and
OF great practical moment involving IA 1t does careful
record several times day OF variations OF temperature
barometIca pressure the direction Of the winds, cond
ion OF the sky the rain and fall &C., with observa
tions OF tho meteorological phenomena, and those re-
curing periodically the animal and vegetable king
DOM II likewise embraces careful study OF the condi-
tion OF the waters in Western rivers, by means
Of which announcements OF threatened rises In any part
of their extent transmitted to their lower portions
IN time for the protection OF property and life against
| their dangers.
Nor meteorological Investigations limited merely
to the older portion OF tho United States tho proper
| appreciation OF weather phenomena involves q much
wider field Of Investigate Stations have been estab
shed ST. Paul Island in Behring Sea, at st. McnacPs
in Norton Sound, not far from Behring Straits at Fort
Yukon, and across the northernmost portion OF tho
Hudson's Bay Territory. with the concurrence OF the
| Hudson's Bay Company. Even Greenland Labrador
Iceland Norway, Sweden, and Russia have combined to
form line OF posts encircling the globe, at which OBJ
seryatlons taken at tho same absolute moment OF
me corresponding nearly possible to 1885 4. m at
Washington. Furthermore, the more southern ohserya-
tories In Europe aud Asia cooperating In tic same
general plan OF observatores WHILE beside the stations
OF the Signal Service in the West indies, not few first
class establishments in South America render their as
stance also. Thus the entire scientific resources OF the
world have been called into play by Gen. Mycr in his
plan OF Simultaneous observations not merely for tho
purpose OF advancing knowledge OF the atmospheric
physics OF the globe generally but with the very pur-
pose OF making such gencrAzltons and deductions rs
will allow the prediction Of atmospheric changes far in
advance OF what is possible from facts noted bg
telegraph within the immediate vicinity OF the United
States.
THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SERVICE ENLARGED.
The satisfactory nature Of work now done by the
Signal Service, in connection with the Department OF
Meteoology induced Prof Henry to relinquish into
it's hands the great system OF meteorological operations
carried on for years by the Smithsonian lnsu
tuition and its hundreds Of Observers resident in nearly
every county every State IN the Union, have been
requested transmit their communications to the War
Dapartment A similar service, which has been CON
ducted satisfactorily by the Medical Department or the
army has also transferred to the Signal Office. so
that that establishment controls the entire meteor
oogca interest Of the United States.
The daily publications OF the Signal OIlce consist, In
addition to the probabilities" furnished to the papers,
of review Of weather for the preceding days
and Of map showing graphically the conditions of the
atmosphere at 7:35 OF each day. Tuere Is also
review monthly of the weather, with several maps.
showing the mean haromctrc pressure the temperature
the rainfall &c. together with several other series OF
more or less varied interest
ifa
disseminated, cauonary signals displayed by the
Signal Olicc at all important points on the lakes ana
scacoast for special benefit Of mariners The agrl
cultural cOmmunics, which have an equal interest III
knowing the probable changes OF the weather. are
favored In a different way. Many of these are, of
COURSE out Of the reach OF the daily papers. and for
their benefit the plan been adopted of tcle-
graphing to the signal station observers at
midnight from Washington, tho same forecasts which
appear in the morning papers TO twenty eenters OF dis
tribu,ion, namely Albany. Augusta. Bangor Boston,
Buffalo Burlington Uowal. Chicago, Cincinnati. Detroit
Lcayenworth, LpganspOrt, Memphis Montgomery, Nash
yille New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Springfield
St. LOUIS, and Washington. These are at once printed
by enlisted OF the Signal Service upon bulletins,
enveoped rapidly printed. In postoico wrappers
already stamped and addressed TO the different post
Offices within a rlGus OF many miles as can be
reached hy the swiftost conveyance By p m OF the
" a. % "a m o j. "a oo.fnd ~" IN \ frtnr
such exhibition averaging tne point OF ii a. H nj the
different Offices the average tine thu fap>ihG from Tue
the dispatch leaves the signal once III WIshns
ION till IL has appeared IN the Inferior to"na aud
villages from Maiuo to Louisiana bong ten hours. The
toal number Of bulletins distributed during the past
year has Dcen 629G. Inns system can oc nefeaScu III
definitely with proper appropriations
CONNECTION WITH THE LIFE AND SAVING SERVICE.
Another extremely Important feature of the Signal
Service operations during the past year has been its
connection with tie Life Saving Service II may be re-
membered that Congress has authoriz d tie establish
nent OF a certain number Of lfesayng stations at DIFF
eren points on the coast where to BE- placed
permanently for the relief Of vessels IN distress WIh
each such station there is combined telegraph station
supplied by observer OF the corps, not ONLY for the
purpose Of giving the meteorological Indications a tne
station but also furnish Information III reference TO
threatened or actual wrecks, and me measures neees
from Sandy Hook to Bal negsr, aud from Norfolk to
Cape HItteras and Others are bcin; constructor as
series OF teegraphc signals by which passing vessels
report at point II tie coast ana nave iLloFm
ton cOnveyc ed from the station 10 their owners. .
The engaged in this are all skilled teegraphic
operators and familiar with the system OF lnicfn
Sgn aSg nsonS sHes as T&o 20 eaa5ioa"y
played alta OF these Stations so that vessel
lag the coast is first warned OF stoim II one Is irena
ing within the scope OF the observation OF tho culrh
Office II shpweck is imnineh & % Ear van and ~ near
moned to come on steamers io poris Lar az " heaa
perhaps in time TO avert the disaster. II ad ias ana
the ship strike. the liesaving srrvce can DC con
centrated from other stations ana III any ioeo nctNei
II the vessel is actually wrecked notice can go TO an
parties Interested, while lists VI PASSENGERS ana crews
saved lost be made known and provision sou:ht
for the necessities Throughout all inc course VI hc
formed naval vessel appearing on one oi the slghai
stations can transmit a communication 10 WASHINGTON
or receive orders cipher by signal In Time OF war
win the system completed, part Of the coast could
menaced without knowledge az the great centers OF
along the coast or throughout tue eouh
try need be- of The character OF tho menace ana the
locality. ln time OF peace II desirable Tor commerce
record he kept OF Passing vessels showing lhelr s
nas brief messages be sgnaed TO OF from tncn
II is contemplated to equip each station witn sena
piore OF this kind when higs may ia ana ior
the purpose OF enabling them better 70 communica'o
with foreign vessels. - a,- -
Another gubject In charge OF the sgna service mas
becn the bud,pg of Iuied States lines OF telegraph IN
nd being ABOUT l,2h