St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-11
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
MINNESOTA SIGNAL SERVICE.
Hts Object Explained by Secretary
Phelps.

Its Object Explained by Secretary
Phelps.
TO the Editor of the Globe.
ST. PAUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE., July 10.
This service is now being rapidly extended
throughout this state, Eastern Dakota and
Northern Iowa. The central station is located
at the chamber of commerce, St. Paul, adj
Jacent to the United States signal station.
The leading objects of this state service are:
flrst-Io secure regular and accurate OBJ
servatlons three times each day, OF the tenn
pefature moisture, atmosphere pressure and
other meteorological conditions at all the
more important railway stations in the state
and contiguous territory.
Second-To record and tabulate the
result of these observations and report
the same to the chief signal officer
OF the United States government, in order
that by careful analysis and comparison, one
season with another, the laws of our climate
may be more clearly defined
Th1rd-To disseminate throughout the coun-
try, through the medium OF telegraph, and by
means on signal flags on railway trains and
at stations of the service a knowledge of the
weather probabilities for each day as indi-
Gated by the reported observations, including
cold waves, rain and snowfall, tornadOes and
other disturbances.
Fourth-To increase the accuracy and prac
teal value of daily weather predictions of the
ton and multiplication of the observing sta
lions OF wide extent of territory.
The Minnesota signal service was origina-
ted in 1888 by the director of the Carlton col
lege observatory at Northfeld. Mimi, and has
reached its present proportions urder his
supervision. To give l. greater value and
efficiency, the central station has been re-
moved to St Paul by the advice and hearty
cooperation Of the chief signal officer Of the
United Stated. AT the invitation of
the directors of the chamber of
commerce the headquarters of the
service are located in the building, corner of
Sixth and Robert streets, and adjacent to the
United States signal station. A special COM
mlttee OF the chamber has been appointed to
cooperate with the director in the execution
OF the plans of the SERVICE and in its extern
sion throughout the territory to be covered
by II. The observer in charge Of the central
office is an sttache of the United States signal
office service, and reports regularly to the
chief signal officer.
From the foregoing statement it will be
rapidly seen that the generous and hearty CO.
0peratlon OF the rallwafhnes centering IN st.
faul is an essential factor in scheme deS
tined to be of inestmable value to the people.
such cooperation has already been secured
from the ST. Paul, Minneapolis s. Manitoba,
tue chicago, Milwaukee u st. Paul, the Min
neapolis St. Louis and the Minnesota &
northwestern railways The general officers
appreciation of the value of this service,
which will be promptly recognized by the
people along their lines, who will be greatly
benefited by its operation.
1t is confidently believed that the remain
Ing railway companies will also soon cooper
ate In the extension of service which has
become matter of universal interest, espec-
tally to the commercial and agricultural
classes throughout the entire country
The practical working of the signals may be
summarized as follows:
First-FIags are to be hoisted at stations at
s O'Clock a. m. The weather forecasts indi-
Gated by them are issued for the twenty-four
hours, commencing at o'clock a. m. each
day.
Second-The weather predictions are issued
at O'Clock a. m. daily. They, are telegraphed
TO the stations of the service at o'clock
a. m.
Third-The cold wave warnings are tele-
graphed to the principal stations of the SER
vice from twenty-four to forty-eight hours in
advance. The order to display the cold wave
nag is sent out whenever it is expected that
the temperature will fall suddenly more than
10 and whenever temperature Of 45 . or
lower is anticipated. 1t is lowered at the ex-
piration of the time mentioned in the order to
hoist unless second warning is received.
All other signals are lowered at sunset
Fourth-W Gather signals carried by rail-
way trains will be displayed from the baggage
cars near the wide door,
Further information concerning this SER
vice can be procured by addressing the secre-
tary of the chamber of commerce, ST. Paul.
or the director of the Minnesota Signal Ser
vice at Northfield, Mimi.
w. F. PHELPS, Secretary.