The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-11-11
THE SIGNAL sRYICE.
Report of C hief Hazen.


The report of Gen. W. B. Hazen, Chief Sig
nal Off1cerpcontains many matters Of interest,
among which the following may be noticed /
81 have endeavored, he says; Il 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 / may confer as
occasion demands. I take pleasure in ac-
knowledging this courtesy as showing the es.
Enlistment of more intimate relations between
the scientific interests Of the United States and
the Signal Services
'This year has been distinguished by addition
al progress and by decided improvement,
which [ will briefly recite The establishment,
under your sanction, of a 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-
tons for observers of the service the prep.
aration Of new and improved forms for the re-
cordiDg 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 "northa
ers for the interior plateau the adoption Of
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 service
for the special benefit of the cotton interests of
the South the extension of special frost-warn=
ing to the fruit interests of the coiintry the
investigation into thermorhetfic standards and
into barometric standards; the preparation of
whygrometrict tables containing correction for
altitude; the revised determinations of the alti-
tudes of signal-servi stations; the computa-
ton of monthly constants for the reduction of
observed barometric pressures to sea level; the
arrangements for original investigation in at
mospherlc electricity, in anemometry and in
actinometry, and in the last subject, especially
with reference to the Importance of solar ra liza
ton IN agriculture and the absorption of the
suns heat by the atmosphere; the co operation
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 corporation in the drop=,
PAu6 VI biulc-Udllb db SISI1dI-S0rV1ce stations =;
the Publication IN qusrto form of special pro-
fessional papers the offering of prizes for
essays of great merit on meteorological sub.
jects the organization of State weather SER
vices the new investigation of danger lines on
Western rivers; the organization and eauip-
ment OF two expeditions for METEOROLOGICAL
observation and research in the Arctic regions
OF America, oneto be stationed at Lady Frank.
lin bay, the other at Point Barrow, Alaska.
nO-On in
of stations established in the Polar region by
international conference; the establishment Of
system OF stations of observation in Alaska
"a series of experiments has been made with
sun-tiashes, with view of improving upon the
forms of Telegraph to be adopted for the gen
eral uses OF the army, and it ls 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 opserya.
ton on the habits and rayages of the Rocky
Mountain locusts or grasshoppers were ed.
tablished 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 in making the observations their
services were voluntary and without compensa-
ton, the Government bearing the necessary
expenses for stationery and telegraphing.
at 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
containing meteorological information of popu-
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 III temperature, frOsts, temperatures
specially reported from health resorts during the
season when frequented, and, When the condi-
tons sufficiently warrant, fair or rainy weather. as
the case may be, predicted for two DAYS in ad-
vance. There are also forecasted the move
ments of the so-called warm waves and cold
waves ttE
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
on'which the forecasts are made. If 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.
"The river reports, giving the average depth
of water and notices of the dangerous rises in
the different great rivers of the interior, for
the benefit of the river commerce and the pop
ulations in the river valleys, have been regu-
larly made, telegraphed, bulletined in frames,
and also published by the press at the different
river ports and Cities
"The manner in which these reports are
prepared and used, and the mode by which a
'danger-lne has been determined, with
water below which there is considered to be no
danger, while every rise above it is dangerous,
have been sufficiently explained in preceding
reports.
The information published in reference to
this danger-line. in connection with the daily
reports of this Office. has, on the occurrence OF
river floods, enabled those interested to judge
of the probable limits of the rises of water to
be expected at the different places On the river
banks and of the dangers to be anticipated.
This knowledge has made possible necessary
precautions for safety"
Brother Gardners's Philosophy.