The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-11-11

Report os @ hicf Hazen.

The report Of Cen W. h HAGEN, Chief Sig
nal Officer contains many matters of interest,
among which the Following may be noticed
!" / have endeavored, he says, "to bring this
service into active sympathy and cooperation
with the ablest scientific intellects OF the
country. In this direction and in response to
my request, the National Academy OF Sciences
has appointed an advisory committee OF con-
sulting specialists with which l may confer "a
occasion demands. L take pleasure in ac-
knowledging this courtesy as showing the
tablishmenI OF more intimate relations between
the scientific interests Of the United States and
ihp signal Service. -
ssThis year has been distinguished by addition
al progress aud by decided improvement,
which viii briefly recite: The establishment,
under your sanction, OF permanent school of
instruction at Fort Myer, Va. the raising of
the standard OF the personnel OF the Signal
Corps the systemization of the duties of the
signal service the preparation of new instruc-
lions for observers of the service the prep
araton of new and improved forms for the re-
cording and preservation of meteorological
data !; the preparation of special bulletins for
the press, containing weather information of
public interest; the forecasts OF weather, OF
hot or cold waves for periods exceeding
twenty-four hours the forecasts of "north-
ers ~ for the interior plateau ; the adoption OF
a new storm-signal (the cautionary Northwest)
for the interior lakes the arrangement for the
increase Of river service, and wider publications
of warnings of floods or ice-gorges the
changes and improvements in the pub
LEGATION Of the international bulletin
and the monthly weather review, with
their accompanying charts; the increased in
formation added TO the farmers and to the
railway bulletins; the organization OF a service
for the specfA benefit of the cotton interests Of
the South; the extension of special frost-warn-
ing TO the fruit interests of the country; the
investigation into thermometric standards and
into barometric standards; the preparation of
new hygrometrc tables containing correction for
altitude; the revised determinations of the alti-
tudes OF signal service stations; the computa-
ton of monthly constants for the reduction of
observed barometric pressures to sea level; the
arrangements for original investigation in at
mosphenc electricity, in anemometry and in
actinometry, and In the last subject, especially
with reference to the Importance of solar rada-
ton in agriculture and the absorption OF the
suns heat by the atmosphere; the cooperation
in an expedition to the summit OF Mount Whit
ney CAL, for the determination of problems
in solar physics; in neurology, the preparation
Of conversion tables for the English and
metric systems the cooperation in the drop
ping OF time-balls at signal-service stations
the publication in quarto form OF special pro-
fessional papers the Offering of prizes for
essays of great merit on meteorological SUBJ
jects the organization of State weather SER
vices the new investigation Of danger lines on
Western rivers the organization and equip
ment of two expeditions for meteorological
observation and research in the Arctic regions
of America, one to be stationed at Lady Frank
lin bay, the other at Point Barrow, Alaska,
both cooperating in this work with a system
of stations established in the Polar region by
international conference the establishment Of
a system Of stations Of observation in Alaska.
nf ex a m "a wit
sun-fashes, with a view of improving upon the
| forms of Photograph to be adopted for Ae gen.
eral uses Of the army, and it Is believed that
the improved Photograph selected combines
great simplicity with efficiency, and possesses
many practical advantages, so far as known,
over similar instruments In other services.
"During the past year stations Of oDserva-
ton on the habits and ravages Of the Rocky
Mountain locusts or grasshoppers were es-
tabshed in those sections that the experience
of past years has shown to be most exposed to
| the ravages OF these pests. These stations
were at Omaha, Grand Island, North Platte
and Sidney, Neb.; Cheyenne, w. t.. Denver,
| Colorado Springs and Pueblo Col. Fort Sill,
/. T.; Fort Elliott and all other stations on the
United States military telegraph lines in
Northern, Central and Southern Texas, and
| those on the northwestern military telegraph
line in Dakota and Montana Where civilians
were employed i'll making the observations their
| services were voluntary and without compensa-
tion the Government bearing the necessary
expenses for stationery and telegraphing.
1T is gratifying to state that not single re-
| port Of the ravages OF locusts has reached this
Office and their presence has been announced
only at Grand Island, Neb., Fort Supply, l. T.,
and Fort Elliott, Tex; but in no instance has
any danger been reported.
" This year, for the first time, the Chief Sig.
nal Officer has caused to be prepared and is
sued, twice daily, special bulletins for the press
a,,,,,.x g..
! lar interest to greater extent than can appear
for want Of space, in the official synopses and
indications. They treat especially of high winds
severe storms. tornadoes, heavy rainfalls
floods, extreme temperatures sudden and great
changes in temperature, frosts, temperatures
specially reported from health resorts during the
season when frequented, and, WHIT. the condi-
tons sufficiently warrant far or rainy weather, al
the case may be, predicted for two days in adj
vance. There are also forecasted the move.
ments of the so-called warm waves and cold
waves
In addition, the Chief Signal Officer causes
| to be regularly made, daily, each morning, by
all officers who are liable for detail in the Indi.
cations Division, forecasts or deductions of the
weather conditions for the day succeeding that
OH which the forecasts are made. II the result
Of these studies is sufficiently successful indi.
cations will, in time be issued for all districts
for periods of more than one day.
lho iNcl icpOieo, blNih6 VIC o'oio6o uoPlA
of water and notices of the dangerous rises in
the different great rivers Of the interior, fol
| the benefit of the river commerce and the pop
ulations in the river valleys, have been regu-
larry made, telegraphed, buletined in frames
and also published by the press at the Different
river ports and cities.
1.-The manner in which these reports are
J prepared and used and the mode by which q
'danger-hne has been determined, with
water below which there ID considered to be nc
danger while every rise above it is dangerous,
have been sufficiently explained in preceding
reports.
The information published in reference &c
this danger-line, in connection with the daily
reports of this ONCE, has, on the occurrence oil
| river floods enabled those interested to judge
OF the prob<be limits of the rises OF water tC
be expected at the different places on the river
banks aud of the dangers to be anticipated
This lno Wedge has made possible necessary
precautions for safety"
How tO Know YOur Friend