Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-09
tention to the Indication. OF IN. ,h.emu,s

Ter under varying conditions, We f.el prepar-
ed, after careful and repeated observations,
To offer some instructions for the benefit Of
those who may wish more accurately 10 de-
termine the temperature OF the atmosphere at
any time. In the first place then, the tenn
perature OF the wall OF any building at any
hour OF the dav or night Is not the tempera-
ture OF the circulating air, aud is Of no use
IN attempts TO obtain the exact degree OF heat
or cold. \ wood wall viii rddiate its heat
more rapidly than one Of brick or stone,
and the man who hangs his Thermometer on
"A wood wall can force the mercury below an
other hung against a brick wall. The proper
way 10 hang "A thermometer, Is 10 surround H.
with n high wood frame, covered with Stats.
like shutter work, aud rooted over. This will
protect 1t from the wind, the direct rays OF
the sun, and reflected heat. Run a light wood
bar across the center OF your shelter, 10 which
you can attach the thermometer. which should
always be, when properly exposed, hung bV "A
cord on the north side Of the building, and at
least one foot from all surrounding objects.
III the above directions are carefully followed
we shall not hear OF SO many erroneous reports
about the temperature, aud the exaggerated
statements regarding the extreme cold wealth
er VIII not find their way into print so often.
IL is not an unimpOrtaut matter for a news
paper 10 report twenty or twenty-five degrees
below zero, when twelve or fifteen degrees
represented the true temperature of the at.
mOsphere. Such reports frequently result In
doing much harm, and no doubt greatly re-
tard the growth Of many towns or cities
throughout the country, IS they produce a
false Impression among persons abroad re-
garding the temperature and climate of any
particular locality. There T. a good deal Of
truth In the humorous remark OF an euthusi
astic writer, who said: Every thermometer
has its own liar, and the liar who has the last
chance ALWAYS has the best instrument. The
thermometer that Will rise the highest in
summer and fall the lowest in winter + a i0y
forever The thuth IL that nh ahoplufaIv
accurate thermometer - a great rarity. The
accuracy OF lh.s instr ume1t depends entirely on
the care given In It's manufacture. The even
ness Of the bore and the size of the bulb are
what determine the accuracy OF ans thtrmon-
eter.
II the tube ~ a thermometer contains air
the mercury frequently divides itself into two
or three slender threads. each separated from
the other, and thus the instrument is render
ell useless until the threads are made TO unite
The best way 10 accomplish this, IL the Their
moneter Is well made, aud c~aatains but little
air, is 10 attach a strong cord to the top 0f the
instrument (the end by which it ia hung aud
swing u v~tolently around with a circular mo-
tion. when 'ie cent? fugsl force will Dir We the
detachrI ,p Ions OF mercury together, down
into the glis' bulb OF the instrument. and the
whole will again be united When 1t is re.
Q1ircd TO determ ne the temperature with the
utmost accuracy, and the most reliable indi.
cations are desired. IL IS advisable to employ
wv W. NAA N'E' y a. -NnFI IANfIlfNf Y -m
that L., one having the scale marked ON the
glass tube, instead ~ q metal frame, as in all
ordinary thermometers-and, when properly
constructed, such an intrumcnt may be usu-
ally depended upon. The United states Sig
nal Service. and most meteorologi,ts,
make use Of two kinds OF thermometers-thc
dry bulb" for temperature, and the "Net
bulb Tor the 'dew point, - though the latter
IS seldom employed except for scientific
purposes.
In conclusion. the following general rules
may be given for properly using a lhcrmome-
ter: Before noting the b ght Of the mercur.
ial column. the instrument should be allowed
to acquire the temperature OF the medium i'm
which Il Is placed, and this, In general, VIII
require several minutes. To determine the
temperature Of a room. the instrument should
be freely suspended from nine 20 twelve inches
from any ucighhoriug object. so a. u take the
temperature OF the atmosphere alone. In de
termining the temperature Of the out door air,
the Instrument should bee hung some distance
from any building or tree. sheltered from the
direct action OF the suns rays. and. moreover.
II should be protected from winds and all eur.
rents OF air. The bulb should be So placed
thHt 1t will not rest against a wooden or metal
back, but be free from both the scale and the
frame of the Instrument aud lastly. In read
the indications OF any thermometer, it is
very important that The eve Of the observer
should be exactly at the same hight As the
OF the mcrcurisl column. or otherwise an
erroneous read ng Is likely to be made.