Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-29
A STATE WEATHER BUREAU.

The meteorological observations of the
Signal Service Corps of the United States
army have been of inestimable benefit to
the people. No one now thinks that the
cost Of maintaining the observation sta
tions is i'll expended On the contrary, we
would scarcely think that the country
could get along" without the Signal
Service, so important part does it play in
the economy of everyday life at this time.
But valuable as is the corps to science
commerce and agriculture, it is not equal
to the needs of the country. Expanding
intelligence on meteorological subjects has
created demand for greater activity in
and more stations for meteorological obser-
yatIons. Twenty-Five of the States of the
Union have responded to this demand, and
have established more or less elaborate
systems of State observations under State
Weather Bureaus. Our next-door neigh
bors, Nevada and Oregon, have set up
very successfully such bureaus, and the re-
port of that of Oregon for one of the
months Of the year 1889 is now before US
While not elaborate, it gives evidence of
the Importance and high value of the
scheme. The Signal Corps Observers are
few in number, and are situated at widely
separated points. Their work relates to
the whole country, and is confined pretty
closely to storm observations and the daily
gathering of data that will enable the
headquarters to forecast with reasonable
certainty the state Of weather we NAV ex-
pect in the twenty-iour hours succeeding
the publication of the probabilities" Of
course the stations of the corps secure a
great amount of valuable data relat-
ing to the meteorology Of the country
that IS given in the elaborate reports
of headquarters annually, and at other
stated periods. State weather bureaus
however, relate solely to State observations
and their relation to immediate or local
interests. They therefore involve of ne
cessity a great number of observation sta
tons, which are usually illedb volunteer
observers These stations collect the OBJ
servations Of the people generally, and
from this mass Of testimony the head
quarters Of the State system is enabled to
arrive at conclusions that amount to reIia-
bic judgments in most cases, and are Of the
highest value to the agriculturist, and Of
scarcely less importance to the man Of
trade Oregon erected her system in the
present year, and the working of it is as
yet crude and develops probably some
friction, especially since the Supervising
Director has not yet been named, and such
work as has been done has been voluntary.
Under the Oregon bill the State names the
Chief, or Supervising Director, and the
Chief Signal Officer of the United States
army names the Assistant Director. The
State service is thus directly related to the
Federal service, and the two are harmoui-
Gus in purpose and labor. No salaries are
paid except for one clerk, and the labor of
the bureau is therefore at the outset one
of public spirit; but the belief is enter
tanned that there will be no failure of in
terest in the scheme because there are no
dividends for the officials of the new sys-
TEN. The State simply buys the necessary
instruments, and these are placed and used
as the Director deems best Says Assistant
Director Pague:
in Oregon the primary object of the
bureau is 70 make climatic investigations in
every section of the state, other important and
resultant characteristics affected by the climate
viii be treated upon-i. G, climate snd its effect
on crops, soils, productions, health. water sup
ply, etc. The temperature OF the soils at differ
ent depths the number of hours Of sunshine.
the number of hours during which rain falls
the rate OF evaporation. and other inyestiga,
tons viii be made and duly published.
The Signal Sergeant at Sacramento, Mr.
Barwick, says upon the same subject, with
some exuJerance Of utterance:
I must confess that am discouraged at the
small amount of interest taken by its people in |
the climatic conditions Of this State. which |
stands pre-eminently as the central and best !
portion of the Pacific slope, as well as the great
and glorious Golden West Even our snowy |
neghbor, silyery Nevada, has had established /
q state Weather Service by its intelligent |
and far seeing Legislators. Certainly, If that
state deems systemized and accurate record /
Of It's climate should be blaDoned and adyer-
tised to the world, what ought Californisns to
think Our 0regoniau neighbors Of |
the north elected members TO their Legislature |
who, during their session OF lSSSS9, covered |
themselves with everlasting honor and glory
by passing a bill that gives 70 the people OF that
Stale state Weather Service whose climate I
is never so good, healthful, or healing as our /
own.
The subject is presented thus early that
the people may be thoroughly advised
upon it. II it is freely discussed now, and
the experiences of the States where the