The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-12-11
OF previous appropriations remaining unex:
pended on T,i}V l. 1$r4

pended on JUN /. i$3s. '.'''s ""'A'
The execution of all works provided for Ii
the River and HarbOr act, approved March 8
1872 for which the plans and projects have
been approved, is being proceeded with. In
the case of new works unavoidable DELAYS
have in some instances arisen from the neces:
the occupancy of their sites.
"On the survey of the northern and north.
western lakes, the vain triangulation connect
nearly completed. Coast charts Nos. 4 and
Of Lake Ontario, and Nos. 2, and Of Lake
Erie have been finished.
..T REl'ORT or THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE.
Tho construction of the new buildings at
ROCK Island Arsenal has progressed in satis-
factory manner, and, with the aid of the new
appropriations asked for, the workshops win
soon be in condition to receive their MAJ
chinery and commence manufacturink to
meet the future wants of the country.
During the last fiscal year there wera
Springfield rifles, and under the law author
lzlng IT, lOO0 of the experimental HOtchkiss
magazine rifles. The former have been pro
o0ced at q much less cost than heretofore,
owing TO the increased number manufactured
and the Improvement of the plans employed;
and as there is now available larger proper.
ton than usualfor the present year, it is CON
further reduced IA the future. There were in
store, on July ], 1879, only 2,,Os3 rifles and
os4t6 car6fnes at the armory and arsenals.
vents Of the present and the calls that may
be made in the future.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER.
1.-THE Chief Signal Officer reports that the
established course of drill and Instruction in
military signaling and telegraphy, meteorol-
ogy and the Signal Service duties at stations
rs Of the has
tinucd ut the School of instruction and Prac-
tice at Fort Whipple, Va. The apparatus
needed for the study and exercise, with in
frr,p savpfa fOr n tho meteorological
duties at stations of observation; the equip
ment for the drill in field signaling; the drill
with the field telegraph train; the construc.
ton drill for permanent telegraph lines, and
the duties on signal and tclegraphic stations
is full, and has been improved by useful addf-
tiOns
"The officers of the Signal Service pass the
course of drill and instruction. and serve reg
ularly at the post of Fort Whippic before be-
ing put upon any other duty. There have
been instructed during the year IL men as as
sistant observers and nine for promotion to
the grade of Sergeant.
lone hundred and seventy stations have
tenn of stations of observations from which re-
ports are deemed necessary to enable proper
warnings to be given of the approach and
force of storms, and of Their meteOric changes,
for the benefit of agricultural and commercial
interests.
"Twenty-five stations of a second class,
hitherto described as Sunset Stations at
which single observation is taken daily, at
the time of sunset, by citizens employed for
this purpose, have been continued in opera.
ton.
1.-The issue for publication Of the official de-
ductions or forecasts had at the office of the
Chief Signal Officer, and known as the SynOp-
SIS and Indications, has continued during the
year. There has been no failure of the de-
livery OF any report to the press during that
period. The total number of the reports thus
furnished ut the hours Of one a M, 10 80 q. m,
and 80 p. m, daily, has been 1Oa5.
The wide diffusion given these reports may
De Judged from the fact that they appear daily
States. When the forecasts or indications
thus published are examined in reference to
accuracy of preannOuncement of the state of
the weather only mot the fOrestating, as is the
custom, the changes OF the barometer, Their.
mometer and averge wind>lirection to happen),
to be M.7 per cent verified. A minute analysis
of the same forecast anda careful comparison
with the weather and the instrumental changes
ABOVE referred to, afterward occurring within
the time and within the district to which each
forecast has had reference has givcn,an aver
age percentage OF accuracy of S6.6 per cent.
An average of 30 per cent to follow this COM
by an arrangement with the Post-OfRce
Department. 6,l42 printed Farmers Bulle-
tins, on which appear daily the forecasts of
this office, have been distributed and dis
PLAYED i'm frames daily at as many different
pOst-offices i'll different cities, villages and
hamlcts in different States, for the use of the
agricultural population throughout the United
States.
"A Weather Case. or Farmers Weather
indicator, an instrument arranged to exhibit
together on simple plan the meteorological
indications OF several instruments, and in
such way that they can be easily noted by any
one, IS in preparation for general ISSUE"