The New York herald., 1877-11-23
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES

wAsHisGros, Nov. %, 1871 .
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFF,
GER OF THE ARMY.
The Chief Signal Oficer OF the army in his annual
report recommends legislation for moro complete
organization of the Signal Service. With duties
as extensive as important and reaching directly
interests OF the people Of tho United States
than those Of any other bureau OF tho War Depart.
men 1t exists, he says. without laws providing for
the permanent employment and grades OF It's officers
the promotion OF It's enlisted men. This condition
is found TO seriously embarrass the work OF the Office
Tho subject Of such organization received last year
and In the preceding careful attention. ana was
favoraby recommended by the President to Congress.
The experience OF the year has demonstrated that
need OF IL II the service Is 70 advance to greater
success cannot be 100 safely guarded against poss-
Bile tamperings oGer too certain rewards tor faith
ful service. t #n
The results OF the year gave for encourage.
ment II has marked by the fact that il has in
its incidents called into action every for the par
ticular duties Of the Signal Service. provided both
for peace and war. The useful preannouncement OF
approaching meteorc changes is admitted as estab.
lished by seven years continuous practice.
Wise criticism demands each year improving accuracy
and with each year the paths for Improvement; the
evidences Of success have become more Wis.
bio. The work has gained in simple.
ity and extent. The cooperation OF true
scientists has continued both at homo and abroad
The OF The service and the results to be hoped
from It's future development have been appreciated.
The popular support and the support OF the prsss have
been steady and considerate The service advances,
not always by smooth paths but to certain success
Steps have been taken TO extend the river reports
this year to the rivers of California and Oregon the
rapid rise ana fall OF which involve sometimes
large grazing interests, as well as those OF
agriculture and commerce.. series Of canal reports
announcing temperatures probable 10 efrect canal
commerce, issued during the OF tho
closing OF navigation at the commencement OF last
winter for the OF canal commerce and the in.
terests depending thereon lhe different reports of
the office OF which mention has thus been made have
favorably received in the communities for which
they havo been furnished and their uses have been
acknowledged by communications from commercial
associations and by other official action. BY the
great diffusion given tho reports OF the Office
through the press, the display of the different Office
bulletins and iorms OF report, the maps and regular
publications, is estimated that the statements based
upon the Information gathered upon the files Of the
office and issued daily for the public roach daily
less than one-hird OF all the households in the
United States. The regular daily publication OF The
reports by the press, continued for years
without cost to the United States considered as an
evidence Of their usefulness and OF tho favor with
which they received by the communities for which
they are Intended.
The office is in correspondence in reference to It's
duties with committees appointed for the purpose by
the Boards OF Trade ana Chambers OF Commerce OF
the principal cities in the Union, and also with a
large number Of agricultural societies number of
sets Of resolutions officially adopted by leading asso-
Citations OF this character in prominent cities OF the
United States, expressing approval Of the
vice and asking favorable action In its be-
halt. accompanied the last annual report
These resolutions officially submitted to
Congress at its last session. Permanent committees
have this year been appointed by action of the boards
which committees inspect and report monthly 10 this
office upon the condition and utility Of the service in
their vicnitcs. The boards In this way nj once CO.
operate with the office and share responsibility for
It's success.
The office publ catIons-the Weekty Weather Chron-
ice and Monthly Weather Repieio-havc been regularly
issued during the year. number of valuable charts
have been prepared. The data TO be preserved
have become very numerous by the change
Of system OF observations, formerly under the d.
rection of the Smithsonian Institute and those fur
nished by the Medical Department OF the Army and
Navy together with the reports Of the Signal Service
stations, total OF 9lI daily weather observations
from as many different places arc entered upon the
files daily AS the regular system OF observation Of
the once. number OF observations taken on
vessels at 10 complement the synchronous
reports OF the service, and at tho request Of the de-
partment have been received upon the former pro-
vided for the purpose Their utility is evident In the
study OF storms approaching our coasts or which en-
danger vessels sailing from our ports. The co-opera-
tion of the navy OF the United States In tho taking OF
observations simultaneously with The system opted
by THIS Office wherever there naval vessels OF tho
United states, as assured by the general or.
der OF the Secretary OF the Navy, dated
December rs. 1876, has largely increased tho
data Of this class Tnc people Of tho United
states tho FIRST nation whose army and navy
cooperate. as all armies and navies shoald under
Official ORDERS tho taKias OF simultaneous observa-
tons wherever the orccs may be. The ofiiccs Of tho
signal the different cities and ports OF the
United States ana upon the sea coast, orer every
facility Tor tho comparison OF instruments, the use OF
data or other modes their power TO The vessels OF
every nation which enter our waters for commerce
shelter.
The proposition adopted AT the congress Of persons
charged with meteorological duties which was
assembled at Vienna IN 1874, aud 10 the effect
that II Is desirable with view TO their exchange,
that at least uniform observation OF such char
to be suited Tor the preparation OF synoptc
charts, be taken and recorded daily and slmulta.
neously throughout the world, continued 70 have
practical Effect by authority OF the War Department.
and with the courteous cooperation OF scientists and
chiefs OF meteorological services, representing the
different countries, record OF observations,
taken daily simultaneously with the observations taken