, 1878-05-03
THE WEATHER OBSERVERS.

"A morning with the weather. ob.
,cr,rr,"I, ,hc ,J,In under which an
auro and comprehensive article in
the "Sai'ur'- Ma-anu-' for March
ul.,u,,c, ,hn signal service. W. in.
,rrt the luIIowru. extract, feeling
rs.tit will afford intelligence up, n
,Ic ,uhirr, 20 many whose Ideas of
tr. ol,.crt, and usefulness of the sjG.
mal ,rv re are more or less obtusc:
The ~f-na' service. United states Army
li.iou of lrrgrm- and Reports for the
hruriif oi Commercial ami Agriculture. J.,
,Nu.rtr,l in the language ot Gen. Mrcr
"Od Probabilities thict Signal Olli-
,rr. to urriurm the following duties: 40
give prnirctiun n commerce 10y warnings
ON ali of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of
the United States. and on those Oi the
lakes: 10 watch the river changes along
:hrir courses in the great rivcr-valeyS; 4"
ote at seasons the temperatures affecting
"a nj commerce; TO carry telcgraphic
lines. hy which meteorological reports may
hc had. over regions considered impracti-
cable for such constructions; to maintain
A system OF connected stations on the sea
coast: 10 take charge of the recognized
system Involuntary meteorological reports
may he had. over regions considered im-
practicable Tor such constructions; to main
tain n system of connected stations on the
sea-coaSt; to take charge OF the recog-
nized systems of voluntary meteorological
observations on this continent IN addition
to the regular system OF the service; 20
secure the cooperation of foreign observ-
ers in foreign countries; to endeavOr to
aid directly all the farming population in
the harvesting nj their crops; and finally
to put it in the power of every citizen to
know each day, with reasonable accuracy,
the approaching weather changes"
How is this done? For it is right to say
that these expectations are met, and with
continually growing accuracy.
In the first place, there is a thorough
course Of instruction given to those who
are to be observers, both in military, sig
mailing and teIegraphy, meteorology. and
the Signal Service duties at stations OF OBJ
Scrvation and report. This is done at the
school of instruction and practice at Fort
Whipple, Va. There were aU this post.
at tie last report, seven commissioned Of
ficers, OF whom four were under instruc-
ton, and forty-two enlisted men. There
were on station duty, June 80. 1876, the
date OF the last report, 1O3 sergeahts, 8
Corporals, and "a privates.
There are in the United States in all III
station. Classed as follows: Stations max
ing full telegraphic reports %; making
observations and reporting by mail. l5;
printing stations at which observations
are not made, 3; special river station, %;
stations on telegmphic lines, 3S. Reports
are also received from seven stations in the
West Indies. six Of them making tuIl lele-
graphic reports; and from sixteen British
American stations, all but one reporting
by telegraph.
The average cost of manufacturing each
station Of observation during the year, eX-
elusive Of the cost of the teIegraphic SER
vice and Of The pay and maintenance of the
men on duty was $42t,0?. Itmay be said
here that the sum Of the pay and allow
ances of the men scantily Compensates for
their continuous labor.