The Osceola times., 1886-11-27
THE WEATHER BUREAU.

Interesting Excerpts From the Annual Re
port of General W. II. IIazen. Chief sigma
Onicer-The Value OF the Service as indi-
Gated by Practical Rssuits-Further Ex-
tensions Desirable.
WAsuINGToS, Nov. 2l.-General W. b.
Hazen, Chief Signal officer, has transmit
ted TO the Secretary of War his annual re-
port, showing the operations OF his bureau
during the last fiscal year. The report
begins with a statement of the value Of
the instruction afforded at Fort Myer, and
the service Of the signal corps attached to
Genearl Miles command during the Gero-
nimo campaign are cited as evidence of the
utility and necessity of trained signal Off
GERS. Regret is expressed at the action OF
Congress in failing TO provide for contin'
nance Of Forl Myer as post of instruc-
tiou. On this subject General Hazen says:
"Ihe present plan must inevitably bring
into the service many men not fit for IL,
and this fact cannot be learned until much
time and money is lost, ana the service i'm
paired"
Concerning the worl, of the meteorologi-
cal division the report says: "Manv very
important laws have been recently de-
duccd theoretically and confirmed by OBJ
serverations and experiments. Solar and
terrestrial radiation, the conditions deter
mining Temperature, the relations be-
tween the amount Of solar heat received
by different parts Of the carths surface
and the corresponding resulting tempera-
ture; the effect Of the DETECTING forces OF
the earth's rotation on the mechanics OF
atmosphere. and the theory of the general
motion OF the atmosphere and of cyclones,
tonadoes, etc, are subjects which have
recently received much attention.
AT is stated that the plan of securing as
observers young men qualified by educa-
tion G,r the pursuit OF scientific studies,
and thus raising the standard of the enlist
ed force of the signal corps, has now been
in operation five years, and of the 35s en-
listmonts made during that time ninety
seven were college graduates; and it has
proved Of benefit to the service.n
WEATHER FORECASTS.
Touching the weather forecasts and
special warnings issued during the year, it
is said that the increasing demand for
these forecasts may be taken as evidence
of their value. The officers are unable to
comply with the numerous requests re
ceivcd from cities. towns and corporations
for the special warnings. owing TO the linn
itcd appropriations for this branch of the
service.
General Hazen says that the progress
made in indicating the approach of cold
waves has been highly satisfactory and
he Is convinced that property to the value
of many millions of dollars has been saved
through the agency of this service. The
cold wave signal is now displayed by or
ders from the central office at 300 cities
and towns in the United States, and from
these points distributed by telephone and
and railways to about 10000 stations, An
appropriation of 5000 is recommended
for the extension of the service and the
opinion is expressed that no appropriation
would be more acceptable TO the people.
OF The l,O65 cold wave signals displayed
during the year, Sll, or $50 per cent were
justified.
The number Of signal stations in opera
tion June 30, 1896. IN the United States was
1852. These include the telegraph stations,
display, special river, cotton region and
twelve repair stations. In addition, re
ports are received from twenty-four Cana
dian stations by the cooperation of the
Canadian neurological service. The Office
has continued TO cooperate with foreign
Observers in collecting simultaneous me-
tcorolorical reports. and in this work re
ports have been received from sf foreign
stations and GIG naval and merchant mar
inc vessels.
SYSTEM or WARNING.
Bong desirous Of ascertaining the opin-
ion Of the public as 20 the value of the sys-
tenn Of warnings and indications by the dis
play Of flags, the chief signal officer says
he addressed circular letter to those in
charge Of the display of those signals at
various points requesting that they report
to what extont they give satisfaction.
More than 25A replies We're received com
mendng in the highest terms this new
feature Of the signal service which gives
TO many cities and towns the advantages
of signal service station without expense
10 the Government An appropriation Of
sl00 is recommended to enable the bu
reau TO furnish flags and transmit tole-
grams TO these volunteer stations.
OF the utility Of the food warnings fur
nished by the Signal Service, the report
saws a careful estimate shows that prop
erty valued at sl2S0)O was saved at
single station Nashville, Tenn). by the
food warnings of the Signal Service in the
Cumberland river during March and April
OF the current year. The expense TO the
Government in communicating the above
warnings 70 All blAilpilH bl Nnht ~ NHl'ils lli-
Guiding pay Of river observers, was S'1.so
This single example illustrates what is
being done IN the whole system.
Tho system of seacoast telegraph lines
is said TO be Of great value, and its ex-
tension along the entire Atlantic coast is
recommended
of the State weather services. General
Ha2cn save, "I'he plan OF organizing state
weather services. cooperating with the
signal Service has met with encourage
meni during the year. and the evident
value or such organizations in affording
means for the rapid and economical dis
tribution Of the weather forecasts and
frost and cold wave warnings Of this serv-
leo has lei me toarrange for establishment
of similar service in States where they are
not now ia operation
The chief signal officer hopes that Con
vress al it's next session will recognize the
successful work performed by Lieutenant
Creely aud his party in providing promo
iions Of the survivors and support for the
families Of those who lost their lives while
serving with this expedition
The report closes with recommendations
looking 10 the establishment of additional
cauiionarv stations on the lakes and the
purrhasc. at q cost Of Sl0S,O01, OF a new
hnilding for the accommodation of the bu-
reau.
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The Diphtheria scourre.
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