The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-03-07
of the Citizen.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18th, '7S.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 2Sth, '7S.
Fancy yourself in a balloon many
miles above the surface of the earth
high enough to bring half hem
isphere within the range of vision.
and a telescope of sufficient power
To make the whole wide landscape
plain to the sight What a grand
panorama would be spread out be-
meath. An ocean on either side,
great lakes dwindled to millpOnds,
with great rivers like silver tslreads
thrown carelessly over the scene,
roek-ribbed mountains like the
raised furroW in a farroH field, tall
pines dwindled to shrubs and wide
plains TO green pastures; cities like
he child's toy village and people
like tWo-legged insects; and above
the surface a great ocean of air with
clouds sailing through its fathom-
less depths, and the sunlight scatter
ing rainbows here and there and
turning the whole magical picture
into a celestial glory. All this
would be very beautiful, but 1t
would not be science, or have any
particular bearing upon matters of
the highest interest to the world of
mankind.
THE SIGNAL SERVICE
But here close by rs is some
thing far more useful and practical
in its operations. Look far away
yonder on the fat roof of that lofty
edifce, and you will see a strange
combination of mechanical contriv
ances that work mostly by wind.
What we see from this point Is only
an outside sh0w-a sort of wind
work, quite necessary in almost
every enterprise of the present day.
In the first story counting from
the stars is a collection of the most
perfect meteorological instruments
that can be made: thermometers,
barometers, electrometers, plewiom-
eters, hygrometers, faviometers,
aerometers, and other queer things
too numerous to mention. Closely
observing these instruments is 4
man who knows just how to read
their relations.
WEATHER MAPS OF THE CONTINENT.
But let US look more closely into
this sauctum of the Signal Office.
II is now z 80 A. N. Washington
time, and the observer has spread
before him a chart, which indicates
at a glance, the exact condition of
the atmosphere, at more than one
hundred stations, extending all the
way from the West Indies to Hud-
sons Bay, and from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Ocean. He is better off
than our balloon man, for he can
see clearly and record accurately
the meteorological state of things in
all this vast area He sees it rain
ing here, showing there, blowing
hurricanes in one place and gentle
breezes in another, warm sunlight
and beautiful flowers in one lati-
tude, with nothing but dark storms,
snow banks and icicles in, another.
Understanding the great laws of
heat, electricity and atmospheric
pressure, and their influence upon
the aerial ocean that surrounds Us,
he sees at once, by the condition of
the instruments at the different sta
tions, just what changes may be
looked for, not at one, but at all
points reached by these observa-
tions. 1t is no longer guessing or
prophesying, but recording facts
deduced from scientific premises,
and the results thus obtained are
almost as reliable as the calculation
of ecIipses of the sul or moon. In
this way the Signal Service is be-
coming of incalcuIable value, not
only to commerce, but to agriculture
and many of the arts. With still
further progress, and proximate
perfection in this department, we
may learn how to forecast the
weather for weeks in advance, and
the good granger instead of consult
ing the almanacs to see when he can
plant potatoes in the ''dark of the
moon" will inquire of Old Probs as
to the chance of a frost or snow
storm, while Eye ancient mariner"
will sail on Friday if the Signal !
Service proclaims fair weather.
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
As gun reminds one of shoot /
ing, so this talk about the "spirits
of the air" naturally suggests the /
of ocean transportation and /
foreign commerce. Farmers and .
manufacturers both suffer constant .
loss because their products cannot 1
be cheaply sent TO the countries
where they are most wanted Our 4
wheat and corn and cotton and beef /
and pork and manufactures of diff /
ferent kinds, may reach the sea
shore without serious loss to the
producers, but there they are stop
ped. The want of a merchant ma
rine- connecting US directly with all
the great commercial marts of the
world, forces the farmer. manufac-
surer or shipping merchant, to send
she valuable products by foreign
ships, at q heavy cost, and often to
countries where they are least want
ed. We used TO boast of free trade
anG sailors rights and had re-
spectable merchant navy, but this
asst is nearly extinguished, and our
foreign trade has languished in con
\ large number Of Intelligent ana
men, delegated by
boards of trade and cham bers of
have lately closed an IN
ieresting meeting in this city. TIE
.reat purpose OF the convention was
% recommend TO Congress such
lction as would increase our for
ign trade, thus benefisting produc-
RS and augmenang the revenues of
he government, thus adding 70 our
general prosperity The Conven-
ion was not only harmonious but !
in its action, and I can
lot do better than give you the re-
ult of their deliberations in the
resolutions which appear
n Congress as a memorial:
First. That all interests in the
ountry demand the maintenance Z