The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-20
TIE SIGNAL STATION.
The Improvement in the Signal Service
in the Last eighteen Years

The Improvement in the Signal Service
in the Last AiEhtesn Years.
The Savannah signal station is perhaps
ons OF the hest, if not the best, equip ed
stations on the South Atlantic coast. All Of
the latest and most improves instruments
are used, and no reason is apparent why he
service is not as complsts here as at any
station, not only on the South Atlantic
COAST, but of the entire southern district
The Savannah stAti has increased its
facilities to a remarkable extent since it
was established elg Itesn years ago. said one
OF the observers yesterday. Only the
wind gauge, thermometer and ba-
rometer were used then. The
service then, while it was very
incomplete, INST the lie hands upon it, aud
1t was source OF Information that was
very profitable. The phenomenal growth
OF the station entities it to rank an ng the
best in the country. This demands upon the
stai TO furnish information of . more
explicit nature aud of a thorough and re-
liable character induced the chief observer,
through the war department, to give Sa-
vanu&h especial cons Iteration, and that
confederation Is being extended from time
TO time ~ new and modern appliances are
thbI O4lCfO 4tlAO lDS ser lCS
Yesterday a Paragraph, q very important
Instru nsHt, wss rscsivsd. IT is a self
recording barometer, recording the pressure
of the atmosphere for every minute during
tbs day on form sheet which is taken out
OF tbs strument at the end of each week
and preserved. This 10 a valua lie improve
ment over the old style berome sr. While
by the barometer the observers are able to
tell the pressure Of tho atmosphere at noon
OF csrtail day, they cannot at that ims
tell what tine pressure was an hour earlier.
There is no record by tho barometer. The
Paragraph supplies this deficiency, and by
a glance at the form sheet on the instrume t
the pressure may bs ascertained for any hour
or any minute DUNG the day, or say
proceeding day The instrument is pro
vidsd vito eight malallic boxes, exhauste
OF air and connected with a graduated
lever, which is itself adjusted SO as to
transmit to the form sheet the vibrations
of the boxes whenever operated upon by
the air.
In aidition to the Paragraph a thermo-
graph mas been received wnicn records on q
similar form sheet the temperature for
every minute during the day. This is an
Improvement over the Thermometer Is
valuable as tlaG of the Paragraph
over tina h,rometer. There is also the
triple SELF RICHTER, whicn is the m st
valuable instrument probably of thonl
all. 1t rscords the velocity Of the
wind, also its direction, the beginning aud
end, OF rainfall aud the amount Of Taia
that hiss faIlsn.
Only one Or two stations perhaps along
the South Atlantic coast are supplied vita
these Instruments. Thog ars oily put in
the most important stations. The self regis
ter was rscei sed during Obssrvsr vJn
Herrman's term of Office mere s. impor-
tant has this station become that the de-
parLmsnt has Issued an order ailOwl ( the
observer here to make speci prediction
for Savannah and his district.
During the last couols OF years the
Savannah Office has undergone many
changes. aud four changes III
observers have taken place. Oh
server Tanner was removed to Ced ar
Keys, Fla, and his placs was filed by Oh
s9rver Wright, VINO ca ne from Was lington.
He remained here only short tine when
he res gned from the service, and returned
to Washington to practlcs law. He was
succeeded by Observer Won Hermann, wac
came from Montana. He had spent latgs
portion of his TINS in the m u .tains of the
north vest He was dne elegrdpn opera.
tor, and was very valuable MAJ to the
department out il the northwest il
executing orders by fash light at distances
of from fifty TO 100 miles apart. He wa
promoted while here and wa, soon afte
promoted to state observer for n nth Caro-
lima, with headq larters at Raleigh. He wal
succeeded by Observer Domain, who come
fr m Lyuchbdrg, Va.
Observer Domain is now a sergeant, and
has been identified with the war deDart.
ment for the past nine or ten years. He hal
spsnt a great portion of his time in the
northwe t. He vas removed fro N Arizo IA
wnsrs ne had bean stationed for a nu nbel
of years, TO Lynchburg, aud remained al
Lynchburg only few months, when the
vacancy IN the Savannah Office occurred
Assis5A Observer d nson, who has beer
in the Savannah offics for several years
entered the ssrvics at tho age of IL, Daing
at the time ths youngest member ia the
service. He has developed a marked
ability as q observer ami has on severa
occasions bee placed in chArgo Of the
station hers, aad filled the place with the
mos perfect satisfaction. He is original
from RalsiSh, N. c. The Savannah station
is now furnsnad with al extsns We library
and IS supplied with desks, tables and in.
strume Is of hs best type. The flee has
also tsiephons and a telegraph instrument
q