Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-12-19

Our New York Letter.

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Our New York Letter.
The Signal Seryice----What- We
Know About the Weather-HOv
the Prophets Prophesy-An Elk
act Science-The Sugar War-A'
larmist Reports.
From oar oaen Correspondent.
New YORK, Dec. 18th, 1878.
The recent experiences of this
ill-starTed section of the country
over which the weather clerk
seems to have turned on the ee-
lestial faucet, and then gone off
on a ten-days vacation, suggests
to me a few remarks on the sub
iect of that institution whose
destinies are swayed by the
weather clerks yicar-general in
America, Gen Myer, and which
is commonly known sthe w cath
er Bureau.
An Englishman on his native
heath is never without an UNI
brella. "You never know, you
know" what trick an innocent
looking sky will play you there
iin its fickleness. But an Amer
ican rebels at the thought of be-
ing chained to an umbrella. In
the rush In which he always con-
ducts his business, this alpaca
nuisance is invariably in the way
Of arms or legs, while the mental
generated by the attempt
to remember where the article
had been left, as he appears emp
ty-handed at home, is enough to
drive his religious training into
a corner where it will not inter-
fere with a few left-handed re-
marks. If it really rain, he ac-
;epts his umbrella as an uncom-
tortable accompaniment to his
)VershOes, for no Yankee has vet
got ahead of nature to the extent
If inventing a patent cloud turn
1ver to make it rain the other way.
It is only the carrying of the
apparatus all day with
10 signs of moisture after the
irst half hour in the morning.
hat brings about the lamentable
'tate of profanity limited at.
Nowadays the several morning
'apers> publish probabilities" as
o the state of the weather, and
carrying has been re-
luced to a system. For this our
hanks are due to the Signal Ser
ice. The practical workings of |
his organization are under Gov
control, and is familiar
o few outside of those immedi-
tely interested. With a central |
'ffice at Washington, there are
bout two hundred branch offices
catered over the country. At
II Of these stations three obser-
.ations are taken daily, the re-
ults of which are telegraphed to
v Washington. Upon the arrival
f each set of dispatches a chart
, made out and forwarded to the
cities. The tri-daily re-
orts to headquarters include the
tate of the barometer, thermom-
ter, hygrometer Showing the
loisture in the atmosphere, di-
ection Of the wind, the velocity
f the latter in miles and pounds
f pressure, the kind and amount
f upper and lower clouds, rain,
all, snow or sleet, as the case
lay be, and such other informa-
ion as may carefully describe
ne atmospheric surroundings of
he locality whence the reports
ONE.
In New York City the Office
situated on top of the Equita-
le Insurance building. paid a
isit to the superintendent in his
KY parlor, the other day, and I
as particularly interested in the
tile machine which indicates the
ite at which wind may be blow
~ at any time. On an elevated
lace where the breeze is unob-
are four hollow hemis-
herical cups SO arranged as to
atch the wind. The cups are at
ither end Of two rods crossed at
leir centres, and rest at that
oint on registering rod con-
ected with disc which in its