The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-08-30

w 'ho "ihu. Inc Ded-plate
OF the press having been properly pre-
pared the map sheets are placed upon
1t as they come from the cyclostyle,
and then the maps are ready to be de-
hvered 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, II 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
are posted in public places, and are
also sent to a large number of sub
scribers.
In accordance with instructions based
upon the eight-o' clock -the-morning
observation, signals are displayed upon
the flagstaff of the station, which indi-
cate what the weather Is to be.
The second regular observation OF
the day is made at eight o'clock in the
evening. when reports are telegraphed
all over the country, maps are pre-
pared, and the whole routine of the
morning is repeated. Each man has
his allotted duty. One, perhaps, con-
suits the barometer and thermometer;
another consults the thermometer,
which indicates the direction and press
ure of the wind; another consults the
instrument which determines the hui
midity of the atmosphere and the
amount OF rainfall; another otficiates
at the telegraph instrument, while still
another prepares the map as the types
are being set up and the press is made
ready.
The chief officer supervises the work
and prepares an official report of every
observation.
There is great deal of clerical work
in the office, because a 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 quiet minute in
the twenty-four hours at the signal
stations of Boston or New York. The
Office is bombarded with questions and
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 Il oarload Of perishuble 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 station9'
Yes"
"Mr. Scripture, superintendent OF
the Gospel Street Sundayschool, wants
to know what the probabilities are for
to-day, and if it will be safe to send the
children to the picnic at Pine Tree
Grove"
Whirr! whirr! as that you. signal9
Will the rain hold up. so that the races
will come off at Beacon Park to-day?"
Mr.. Chance, broker. sends messea-
ger to ask what the indications are
in the wheat-growing region. Prob
ably he has a speculation in view.
Yachtsmen send up to know If the wind
is likely to favor the regatta. The
agent of a coastng steamship company
wants to know If it will be safe for his
vessel to put to sea tonight. And so
the questions and answers come and
20.
Presently the officer in charge picks
Up bundle of papers and two or three
'ecOrd books, and marches off to u
where he is required to
give expert testimony. In this case,
White has sued Black for damages,
md the case will turn on the question
If fact whether there was or was not
ce on Blacks sidewalk that day. The
,flcer in command OF the local signal
station is summoned by Black, and by
lis records proves that the tempera-
ure on the day was not low enough
or the formation of ice.
Robinson's horse ran away, smashed
he carriage and sprained Robinson's
mike. Robinson says that the horse
vas frightened by smoke blowing
cross the street from fire of leaves
nd other debris on Jones lawn. The
ignal officer testifies that at nine
'clock on the morning of the 10th of
lay the wind was west-not east, as
johnson claims-so that the smoke
aust have blown in the direction OF
ones house, and not across the street
On the whole, the signalmen are
ard workers, and they render thou
and services to the public The world
J conscious of an increasing faith in
Old Probabilities, although not few
ones acquaintances scout at the in
ications published daily by the signal
,rvice, and cry: 'Pshaw! We can tell
hat the weather will be as we'll as Old
rob; It is mostly guess-work!"
But skeptlcism Of this sort is born of r
,norance OF the laws Of storms, or '
rises from the occasional failure or -
Of the Sipnal -Servica renorts !