, 1879-07-29
THE GOVERNMENT WEATHER REPORTS
AGAIN.

lao lDchl blBn0f>6crFlco OluceE Nv tAAS
point has attempted to Justify Gen. MrEn'a
system of taking thoEmai observations, which
was criticised by Tie TRIBUNE somo days
ngo. His defense, however, hos In nowise
changed tho nctua, condition Of things Tho
Government reports show what the temper
aturo Is at, say, 1918 o'clock P. M, and at
hight Of from 10 to 100 feet nbove tho sur-
face Of tho Garth. Hence they do not, and
cannot, show tito actual condition Of Aoat or
cold which has prevailed during tho working
hours, or daylight, nnd upon tho plano wltcro
men and anisnals breathe and live. Tho in
terest and value Of the Government reports
depend upon furnishing tho material for
comparing tho relativa temperature Of Tho
different citica, aa experienced by
tho pooplo, and tho present sys-
tom fails to do this. Mr. LYNCH,
tho United statos observer horo. says "!Tho
newspapers may gather local reports from
tho various cities, showing tho temperature
in daytime and upon tho sidewalks and
stroots.'' So thoJ may, and so The TRnusa
has dono in caso Of remarkable "co!d snap"
or "warm' SPELL" at considerable expense.
hut, in tho meantime, what good Is there In
paying out largo Sums Of money, which
tho Taxpayers are forced to contribute, for
the support Of tho Government service for
thermal reports Of no interest to tho public?
Why suppress or fail to make thoreports which
everybody wants to eco? The high-altitudo
night reports might DO cut OF, at least so far
rs thcrmomotrical reports to tho public 60,
It private enterprise muat still be dopondod
upon to furnish tho information which tho
public pay for, want, and don't get.
Alr. LENcu also intimates that, If tho OBJ
sorvntions wero taken In tic afternoon, md
within faw foet Of Tho surface Of tho Garth,
they would be affected by tho etono nide-
walks, brick walls, radiation, otc., ato4 but
nren't tho people Infected by tho very sa1no
condition Of tho temperature which affects
tho sidewalks, and the streets, and the build
ings where they do their business2 That is
tho Temperature they desire to bo informed
about, and not what tho prevailing heat or
cold may DO up in tho region Of tho clouds
when mankind is asleep. Az to uniformity
in observations and conditions, it oan 10
secured as well at a common hour IN tho t1ay
and under agreed conditions aH by tue pres
ont practice. Tho local observer at every
point might, at certain hour,-Buy 2 o'clock
in tho after,oou.--take observations from a
thermometer, hanging at tho hight of tho
average mans head md in ordinary
shade, anl thaso observations would
DO alike in all places. Thoro arc
parks, or vacant lots, or open spacos in
NIL tho cities which would afford precisely
tho samo conditions at tho Sumo hour. This
p1an might not DO go convenient or COM
Portable f9rthe Government observers, but,
| as tho observation Of most people Is that
Government omploYes arc not usually over
| worked or unlorpaid, tho public will not
hayo my conpunotions about exaostng this
slight change for tho public good Il II is
desirable that observations bo taken as nenr
II o'clock in tho night as possibla in order
to furnish tho Washington Buroau with the
latest material for making up its prognostioa-
lions for the next twenty-four hours wind
or rain. the present PRACTICE might be kopt
/ up for that purpose, hut the further praotice
instituted Of taking M observation about 2
o'clock in the daytime aud noar tho ground
for the information Of tho poup1c, who want
to know how hot or cold 1t was tho day pro-
yious in diffarent parts Of tho country