St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-10-12

| Through each Of these circular sym.
bols Il m arrow which indicates tho
direction Of the wind. The bed.plate
OF the press having been properly pre-
pared. the map sheets are placed upon
it as they como from the cycl0style.
and then the maps are ready to be de-
livered to the public. They show just
what the weather was all over the
United States at eight o'clock in the
morning. so that one can Judge from
| them. il he knows something OF the
laws OF storms, what the weather is
likely to be at any ::point for the next
four and twenty hours. These maps
arc posted in public places. and are
also sent to q large number Of sub
| scribcrs.
In accordance with instructions based
upon the eight-o'
observation. signals are displayed upon
the flagstaff Of the station. which indi-
cate what the weather is to be.
The second rc:alar observation Of
the day Is made at eight o'clock in the
evening. when reports ere telegraphed
all over the country. maps are pre-
pared. and the whole routine Of the
morning II repeated Each man has
his allotted duty. One. perhaps. con-
suits the barometer and thermometer;
another c0nsults the thermometer.
which indicates the direction and press
ure Of the wind; another consults the
instrument which determines the hu-
midity Of the atmosphere and the
amount Of rainfall; another 0fiiciates
It the telegraph instrument, while still
another prepares the map as the types
are being set up and tho press h made
ready. t@ fs-44s7 sAt tu i7A,
The chief officer supervises the work
and prepares an Official report Of every
observation.
There is . great deal Of clerical work
in tho ofice. because . complete record
is made Of every transaction. The
officer in command is called upon for
daily. weekly, monthly. quarterly and
half-yearly reports. besides which he
has to make two annual reports. one
for the fiscal year and the other for the
calendar year.
There is scarcely q quiet minute in
the twenty-four hours at the signal
stations of Boston or New York. The
Office is bombarded with questions aud
invaded by questioners. The labor of
answering them is wholly gratuitous.
but It has developed into one Of the
leading duties Of the signal men at i'm
portant stations.
Early in the morning the bell Of the
Office telephone begins to tinkle. Mr..
Brown. the fruit dealer OF Blank street.
has a carload Of perishable goods con-
signed to Chicago. He wants to know
what the indications are regarding tenn
perature along the route for the next
two or three days. and the answer goes
back to him: There's . hot wave COM
ing" And SO Mr.. Brown decides not
to run the risk Of shipment just yet
Or it may be winter and he is warned
Of snow blockades on railways In an
other State. and he resolves to hold his
fruit until the lines are opened.
Tinkle! tinkle! Hello. hello! Is
this the signal station?"
Yes" tst
Mr.. Scripture. superintendent Of
the Gospel Street Sunday-school wants
to know what the probabilities are for
to-day. and II it will be safe to send the
children to the picnic at Pine Tree
Grove" F
Whirr! whirr! is that you. signal?
Will the rain hold up. 50 that the races
will come OF at Beacon Park to-dayT
Mr.. Chance. broker. sends b messen-
ger to ask what the indications are
in the wheat-growing regioo. Prob
ably he has q speculation In view.
Yachtsmen send up to know II the wind
10 likely to favor the regatta. Tho
agent Of coasting steamship company
wants to know il it will be safe for his |
vessel to put to sea tonight And SO
the questions and Answers come and
70. 81 " r. IT, y" y So
Presently the officer in charge picks
up . bundle Of papers and two or three.
record books. and marches of to q
oouFt-room, where he Is required to
Gfse expert testimony. In fthis easc,
White. has sued Black for damages.
ana the case will turn on the question
Of fact whether there was or was not |
ice en Blacks sidewalk that day. The
officer in command Of tho local signal |
station il summoned by Black. end BY
his records proves that the tempera-
ture on the day was not low enough
for the formation Of ice.
Robinsou's horse ran away. smashed I
the carriage and sprained Robinson's
ankle. Robinson says that the horse
was frightened by smoke blowing
across the street from = fre Of leaves
and other debris N Jones' lawn. The
signal officer testifies that at nine
o'clock on the morning Of the 10th Of
May the wind was west-not east, as
Robinson claims-so that the smoke
must have blown in the direction or |
JoneS' house. and not across the stsseA
On. the whole. the signalnen arc
hard workers. and they reader : thou
sand services to the public. The world
is conscioos Of On iasseasing faith in
old Probabilities. !" Although oet . fe~
u ones acquaiutasceDs scent . tho il
3icauons published daily hy NJ signal
service, and cry: '.Rahsw!fWo cas tslli
rhat tAe Weather viii Be = wsA - Oodsi
Prob; it i nostly Gueas-verk!" " -,et
: But skeptlcisn Of this sort y born a
lGuor.nce Of the Lara of- -sterns. or
krises from the occasional failure or !