New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-13

stations secured IN tho N0ftnoaet elO OS11-
Aauoaable . -bsesse eozo ~ - nae u sne
New England and Northeastern coasts. and
will in time teach something Of tho disturb.
ancee which, passing to the northward Oa
the northern limits Of the United States,
have been hitherto too soon lost from the
study charts tn admit Of their being prop
erly examined. In the seasons of APP
preaching irosts and in those in which
markedly low temperatures accompany
high barometric pressures, extending
slowly southwark, the indications here
first noticed permit information vslu-
able to agriculture and other interests to
be given. The additional stations in the
far northwest furnish added facilities for
the work for such prOgnosticatiOn. besids %
answering the immediate purposes of their
locatiun-that is, to enable a more complete
study to be had Of disturbances which are
first noticed in the Northwest. These eta
tons failing to approach the western lakes
without being SO soon perceived, the llne OF
stations west of the Mississippi has been
pressed steadily westward along the whole
length of the Mississippi valley. Each Of
these stations increases by its reports the
value of the whole system of reports, and
each aids in the long study which must be
had before the meteOric condition over the
vast plateau of the western interior stretch
ing north and south to the limits of the
United States, east and west, until it
closely approaches the Mississippi valley
and Pacific coast, can be fully understood,
or the indications to be had from the
chan 90 there be rightly com bined with those
exhibited at the stations lying to the east
ward and at lower levels for the studies in
eidental 90 the duties Of this Office. 1t is
by the western Limit Of stations here de-
ecribed that more accurate studies are now
limited. There has heen no increase of
stations uDon the Pacific coast, the distance,
the difficulty of telegraphic communication
and the small sums appropriated for the
service having rendered it hitherto almost
impracticable to make one. The opportuni-
ties are, hwever, greatly improving with
the OK tension of the military telegraphs in
Arizona and California. 1t is contemplated
to make the stations upon these lines re-
: lrting stations as rapidly as they arc Oc-
eupio by the signal service. The stations
on the Aleutian islands. half way across the
Pacific, has been continued, and q station
has been established at Sc. Michael'e,
Alaska, to make . connection as closely
as Dos sible with the Russian system of me-
observation. The preliminaY.,
a. ION has been had for the record and I
we dug Of simultaneous observations :.
be taken at the Sandwich Islands and on
the BerIhudas. A brief reference was made
in the last annual report to the benefits
hoped TO result from the proceedings of the
Vienna Congress of meteorOlOgists, which
had then very recently Terminated its $685.
sion. A proposition to the effect that it is
desirable with q view to their exchange
that at least one observation Of such char
scter rs to be suitable for the publication of
synoptic charts be taken and recorded
daily and simultaneously at as many sta
tons as practicable throughout the world
had been unanimously adopted. This Office
had already entered into correspondence
exchanges Of such reports with
different officers and institutions represent
ing different nations. The assent of the
service of Russia was that
first had, and has heen followed by
that Of Turkey, England, Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, France. Algiers,
Switzerland and the Dominion of
Canada. The concurrence of SO many
nations, representing territory covering
The larger Inhabited portions of the nor TIL
,rn hemisphere, seems to put beyond ques-
ion the ultimate success Of the undertaking
20 secure daily Simultaneous report of the |
neteoric conditions over the greater portion |
IT the esrth's surface. Time is only needed |
% extend the cooperation to countries |
which have not yet entered upon it, and to
levelOp the system Of similar observations |
sAAS1uy VVAANAOhSVU W tAO VAACO upOu Gus 7
ga. The opinion has become 80 general |
ImOng scientific men that it is necessa ry to |
tudy the atmosphere of the earth as unit |
md the prospect of valuable discovery is so |
air that skilled and energetic colsborers are |
Ound wherever the request was made. The |
eacOast service of the signal service, in con-
ectiOn with the life saving service, has
rOwn steadily in Importance. The act of |
congress requiring this service contem.
lates the establishment of signal stations
t life saving stations and lighthouses at |
be coast and the sea in their vicinity may
q kept at once under observation, warn.
lgs OF approaching storms to be given to
essels within signal distance, and infOrma-
On of disasters and other incidents occur
ing be rapidly given to the chain of life
sving stations and to the central Office
n advantage incidental to such duties is
nat they permit communication to be had
y signal with vessels passing in sight in
ny-station. A naval vessel appearing off
ne OF the signal stations can transmit
to Washington or receive
rders in cipher or by signal. In time of
ar, with the system completed, no part of
10 coast could be menaced with
ut instant knowledge at the great
entries. at headquarters, along the
,ast, or throughout the country, if need
3, OF the character of the menace and the
cality. In time of peace, if desirable for
q record can be kept of passing
essels showing their signals, or brief mes
lges can be signaled to or from them. As
le lines and stations are extended in pur-
mited to the Atlantic coasts, will reach
so the shores of the great lakes, the gulf
,ast and the coast Of the Pacific. The
0rk of extension must be slow-perhaps
10 labor of years. The results to be had
e worth both the time and the labor. The |
lief signal officer urges earnestly and in
und argument upon the Secretary Of War
10 need of some form of more permanent
ganization to continue with Improvement
the line of duty marked out, and recon-
elds that it be sought of Congress that it
detail or appoint eight officers assistants
the chief signal officer, with the rank
i'd pay Of captains, and eight with the
nix and pay of first ieutenants, while
rving. He also recommends that the pay
enlisted men of the service be made
lual to that Of the most favored enlisted
en- of the army. The report concludes as
llows:
THE popular support, and the support of
Q press, go long and generously given,
I'VE been continued, the criticisms Of the
tier having been temperate and willing
be easily satisfied, and legislation has
'en favorable. To aids like these, and
Ose which the Secretary Of War has found
his duty to render, the advance of the
Drk has been due. There seems no diff
lily to be encountered in the future greater
an has already been met in the past. The
'pOrtunities for rendering public good
we been widened as the service has ex-
nded, and the limits to the bounds which
is possible to attain can not be estimated"
r. Holmes ON Preachers at Deathbeds.
The Springfield, Massachusetts. Union