The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-14
TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER.
Value of the Local Signal Station to
City Merchants and Packers.
Growth and Importance of the Weather Bu-
reau as Shown by the Report of the
Chief Signal officer.

count of its local application. The Indianapolis
station, which was established Feb. "a 1871, is
one of the oldest in the service, which COM
prised at that time only twenty stations in the
whole country, while now there are one hundred
and fifty where the weather reports are received
and published and local indications added
The weather forecasts based upon tri daily
Geographic reports. have been regularly issued
during the year. and, as an evidence of their
practical value, they now form an important
item of news for the Associated Press of the
country. The important new feature of the
indication work during the year has been the
large increase in special indications for particular
localities These special forecasts are made
daily at A. NJ. and 10 A. NJ for the succeeding
day, for the principal centers of population, for
lines Of railroads and States, and are sent by
special message to signal service observers.
directors of State weather services, railroad
officials and editors, for the information of the
public. The value of these predictions is gener-
ally conceded, and the frequent inquiries for
them bear testimony to their usefulness. The
pork packers and fruit-deaiers, during the season
of their active operations, in continual COM
muncation with the Office in this city, and many
reports sent by Observer Wappenhans to
different places in the State. The Importance of
the service is indicated by the fact that the OPP
erations of the Indianapolis pork packers are
regulated by the predictions of the local OBJ
server, as they depend entirely upon the in
formation obtained from him in deciding upon
what day to slaughter hogs certain tempera
ture being required for the work. Likewise the
fruit-dealers consult him daily, for the purpose
of learning whether or not the weather will be
favorable for shipping. In this and other ways
the service is worth to the business interests of
the city many thousands of dollars
A table is published which shows that
the percentage of predictions for Tennessee
and the Ohio valley verified during the pres
ent year up to June 30 was 84.4 The av-
-erage is very high, but is outranked by those
for the middle and South Atlantic and the East
ern and Western Gulf States, where the per
centages of verifcation were respectively sc,
85.8, So 8 and 859. In the Missouri valley the
percentage was rs. and the general average was
SO. 6 per cent.
The indications for the districts named in the
table were for character of weather, direction of
winds. and changes of atmospheric temperature
and pressure. '+.,
The tables show the percentage of accuracy of
the indications during the year. Each forecast
of the several meteorological elements is care
fully compared by the Indications board with
the conditions actually occurring during the time
for which the forecast was made. The rules by
which these percentages have been computed
language in the indications prohibited.
The system of indicating colo waves by flags,
which has been in operation at this p0iuu ;or
about year. is an innovation which has yielded
the most gratifying results. The mistakes made
are very rare and the forecasts have been veri-
fed except In cases when the waves have been
DETECTED by sudden and remarkable temperature
changes. OF the GAG cold-wave signals displayed
during the year, S15, or 1872 per cent. were justi
fed.
l. - - 4 &c
fee requires special study and experience to in
sure the best results. The assistants who have
had the most experience in the preparation of
weather forecasts are assigned to this duty.
A system of signal flags toindicate the changes
in temperature and weather has been greatly ex-
tended during the present year These flags are
extensively displayed on lines of railroads and at
railroad stations, and communicate the weather
forecast made by this Office to many who are un-
able to procure the printed Indications
The system of frost warnings for the benefit
of the tobacco, sugar and fruit interests of the
country have been continued during the year.
Special attention has been given to the system of
warnings for the benefit of the cranberry inter-
est in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New Jer-
sey, and stations have been established which
assure the prompt transmission of frost warn
ings to the threatened regions.
The railroads in the Southwest transmit by
telegraph the warning of approaching northers
issued by this service. Efforts have been made
to improve this service during the past year, and
a coldwave station has been established in
southern Kansas for the benefit of the cattle in
terests in that section and in the Indian Ter
ritOry
One million six hundred and thirty nine thou
sand cipher words of weather reports were re-
ceived at and sent from the generl Office during
the year. Seventy thousand two hundred and
twenty-five kilograms, other than weather re-
ports were sent and received during the same
period.
There is, also, seacost telegraph line which
extends along the Atlantic coast from Smithville,
N. G.. to Cape Henry. Va, and from Chinco
league, Va, to Sandy Hook, n. j.; it has proved
of great value to shipping, and affords means
of communication when assistance may be re-
Qured. Portions of this line are now used as a
telephone line by the Life-saving Service and in
cases Of wreck the crews Of life-savng stations
are enabled to more promptly reach the scene
of the wreck. This service has In single year.
by means of this line, saved property the
value of which exceeded the entire amount
appropriated for the support of the Signal
Service. A contract has been made for the man
ufacture and laying of the cable to connect Nan
tucket with the mainland, and it is expected that
Geographic communication will be established
with this island during the present year, thus
adding to this service a most valuable stat on
for the display of storm signals.
In addition, military telegraph lines aggre-
eating 2, 7l9 miles have been put up and operated
by the Signal Corps in unsettled portions of the
country.
by al arrangement WIFI ErOI. o. A. King
aeronaut, of Philadelphia, five balloon voyages
have been made for the special object of study
ing the distribution of temperature and moist
ure The service is indebted to Prof. King for
doing this work without other remuneration than
payment of actual expenses. The records of all
his voyages. about $50 in all, are now being ex-
amned for compilation of meteorological results.
General Hazen touches very fully upon the
Greedy expedition, claiming that its results
verify his predictions in all essential points
The general work OF the service is performed
by twenty-one officers. three professors, three
junior professors, 500 enlisted men and fourteen
civilian clerks.
General Hazen recommends that the following
officers be added, with rank and pay of officers of
like cavalry grades: One colonel one lieutenant
colonel, one major and one disbursing officer,
eight captains; and the second lieu,enants of the
Signal Corps, after eight years of service as second
lieutenants, may be appointed by the President
anto. nd aft fonr