Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-12-11

WHAT GOLD PROF. HAS TO SAY.

The Signal Service.
WHAT "oLD PROB" HAS TO SAY.
The report of Gen. Myer, the chief officer
of the signal service, contains much that is
interesting regarding the vast extent Of the
operations of the signal service, and the
thoroughness and efficiency with which they
are presented, together with the great eco
nomical and scientific value of the results
attained. During the past year the boun-
daries of the service have been much en-
largsd. Stations have been established on
st. Paul island, in Behring sea, at st.
Michael's, in Norton sound, not far from
Behring straits, at Fort Yukon, and across
the northernmost portion of the Hudsons
bay territory, with the concurrence of the
Hudson's bay company. Even Greenland,
Labrador, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and
Russia have combined TO form a line of
posts encircling the globe, at which obser-
vations are taken at the same absolute
moment of time, corresponding as nearly
as possible to 7.35 a. M, at Washington.
Furthermore, the more southern observa-
tories, in Europe and Asia are cooperating
in the same general plan of observations
while, besides the station of the signal SER
vice in the West Indies, not few first
class establishments in South America rem
der their assistance also. Thus the entire
scientific resources Of the world have been
called into play by Gen. Myer, in his plan
of simultaneous observations, not merely
for the purpose of advancing our knowl-
edge of the atmospheric physics of the
globe generally, but with the very purpose
of making such generalizations and deduc-
tlons as will allow the prediction of atmos-
pheric changes far in advance OF what is
now possible from facts noted by telegraph
within the iuImeuiato vicinity OF the Unit
ed States. Furthermore, the satisfactory
nature of work now done by the signal
service, in connection with the department
of meteorolegy, has induced Prof. Henry
to reinquish into its hands the great sys-
tenn of meteorological operations carried
on for so many years by the Smithsonian
institution, and its hundreds of observers,
resident in nearly every county in the I'm
ion, have been requested to transmit their
communications to the war department.
a similar service, which has been con-
Quoted satisfactorily by the medical depart
ment of the army, has also been transfer
red to the signal Office, so that the estab-
lishment now controls the entire meteoro-
logical interest of the United States. An
other subject in charge of the signal SER
vice has been the building of United States
lines oc telegraph in Texas and Arizona,
the first mentioned being about 1900 miles
in length. 1t is proposed ultimately to
connect all the military posts by lines of
telegraph, and thus greatly to enlarge the
efficiency of our small army, and to re-
duce the cost of its operations.
The publication of the weather probabil-
tiles in the newspapers of the country is
but one item in the catalogue Of the useful
purposes of the system, thus involving a
careful record several times day of varia-
tions of temperature, barometrical pres
sure, the direction of the winds, condition
of the sky, the rain and snow fall, &C.,
with observations of the meteorological
| phenomena, and those recurring periodi-
cally in the animal and vegetable kingdom.
| The system also embraces a careful study
| of the condition OF the waters in our West
ern rivers, by means OF which announce
ments of threatened rises in any part oi
their extent are transmitted to their lower
portions in due time for the protection Of
property and life against their dangers.
For the benefit of shipping, cautionary
signals are displayed at all important
points on the lakes and sea coast and fol
the benefit of agricultural communities
many of which are out of reach OF daily
newspapers, the probabilities, which are
to appear in the morning papers, are senl
at midnight from Washington to twenty
centres redistribution scattered all over the
country, where they are to be printed upor
bulletins, enveloped as rapidly as possible
in wrappers already stamped and address
ed, to the different post offices within such
radius as can be reached by the swiftest con
veyance by ? p. NJ. Of the current day. A
these post offices the bulletin is expected
to be conspicuously posted. The average
time elapsng from the time the dispstct
leaves the Signal Ofice in Washington til
it appears in the interior towns and vii
lagos from Maine TO Louisiana is ten hours
During the past year 62s6 bulletins have
been distributed.
The system has been connected with the
various life saving stations upon the coasts
the double purpose being served of obtain
ng observ ations in those points, and also
of giving warning of storms in order thai
the humane objects of the station may bt
aided. The men engaged in this branch o
the service are all skilled telegraph opera
tors, and are familiar with the system o
international codes. Cautionary signal
are displayed at all these stations, so tina
approaching ships are warned of danger
and when shipwreck is imminent aid can
be summoned from other ports, while the
life-savng service can be concentrated
from other stations.
In closing his report Gen. Myers calls at
tention to the importance of placing thu
system Of which he at present has charge
upon a moro permanent basis
One has to stay away from church now
| l..