The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-10

frO-fS &C.. bat few IN TINS Niatt i''cif -.
formation Of the Unprecedented an" ~ ~
timely frost az the Both Of 1ep,eh,uel' -
which wn. duly sent out from the BUREAU ~
Wnsbjngfon. and consequently one-h''l ~
the tobacco crop Of the state was c"uen',,
which inflicted loss upon us growers -, y,
more than one million dollars, hesiucs "''''
serious injury 10 other crops
COMMITTEE TO PRESENT 1T.
Amor unite lengthy discussion the bill
,vos adoijfod without amendment Inc ioi-
/ iou-in,r were appointed committee 10
I ,r,,...nf the bin 10 the Committee oi Agri-
anifnro of both branches If the Legislature
hi. morning. Major r. y. Gaines, Of ,har-
/ lotte chairman; Judge ". X. Mallory. OF
brunswick. and II. l.. Lyman. Of Abe
marie.
Major Gaines from the Signal Office az
/ Washington i'm reference TO the plan
SIGNAL OFFICE. WAR DEPARTMENT.
/ WASHINGTON CITY, December 10. loo9l
Nr. Richard y. Gaines, Mossinglord, Va:
Dear Sir.-I am directed by the chief sig
mai officer 10 acknowledge the receipt or
your communication of the 4th OF Decent
I brr. relative 90 the organization OF "a STATE
/ weather service in Virginia, and in reply !
| desire 90 express my regret that TINS COM
muuicaiiOn did not receive attention m time
/ forvou % submit the reply 90 the Farmers
/ Assembly. as requested 10y YOU. our let
/ fer WAS referred tO me for reply, and as /
was Detained no my residence ON account
of a contagious disease In my family, the
date named Bog You passed before l was en-
( abled 90 give this subject my attention.
An organization for the state on Virginia
such as Won Indicate would doubtless prove
/ of great value 90 farmers OF that state, and
! the chief signal officer Will assist YOU. so
/ far as hc Is authorized 10y law, IN the mann
tenance OF such service should You be ale
| Oh secure the necessary recognition 10y the
Legislature of the state.
A number of services have been organ
/ led in other States with very little aid from
the State government. the signal service
/ furnishing an the necessary forms and I'M
-iucti0ns. stationery, ranked envelopes,
and "a Signal service assistant % perform
/ ile necessary clerical duties, and presume
fne same flyOfs would Dee extended % the
State Of Virginia should am organization DE
perfected.
During tine past summer this service was
] 'n need of local reports from the state Ol
/ Nifgnn- especially in tine tobacco region
il order chat the weekly crop bulletin might
contain "a fun statement OF the climatic con-
billions existing throughout the tobacco re-
ginn4 0i iha country. therefore a temporary
local service was ORGANIZED. with Lynch
burg as % centre. the Signal service obsorV.
Ter at Chat place calling upon the farmers ln
Ml. vicinity for special weekly reports
uuOn which bee prepared telegram stating
ME general conditions for the week, and
tni4 information was telegraphed tO this Oh
lice for use in tAe preparation of the weekly
crop bulletins at the close of the week.
d. YOU can induce the Legislature of Nir
tinia f0 recognize the importance of such q
"a 3D. u I... moo.
. -lrr Oh organize such service On Che plan of
llat organized in Michigan. Ohio, or Sew
York. only tlat the appropriation need NOT
Ne more than one thousand dollars Co cover
j thr expenses Of "a single Year.
Ihs chief signal officer VIII DE able %
furnish most Of the necessary instruments
. although D. would be- more advantageous g,
have tle State furnish say twenty-five SETS
LOFT instruments. 90 consist of two thermOme
ior, and one standard rain gauge, an of
which can probably Doe purchased 40 $40 a
SEQ. With these in hand for distribution ai
points tO Dee selected tO well cover the state
ile service could commence operations ai
once.
enclose % copy Of my report 0n the sub
iect 0f State weather services for l.s,
which Wili enable yOu FOB present the sub
.ect t0 the Legislature in the form followed
200 other States. and DO will also give some
idea of the value of the State services To On,
community
think 70 would be well to arrange the
service of irgina 30 that the centre could
be ZOO Richmond. ON account of IFS tele.
graphic facilities: and 10 might De we'll to
have fhe service cooperate with the Board
of Trade or the Chamber of Commerce, and
have the bin -O framed that the Governor
may appoint the director without salary.
but masking it possible 10 give "a small COM
pensaii0n tor clerical work. although the
signal Service. as now constituted, VIII
doubtless ho able tO render some assistance
by the detail OF a competent observer for
the central station.
A State weather service in Virginia
would he especially valuable 90 ihe tobacco
interests of that state. as it would afford
zoe signal Service Am opportunity To- dis
tribute. hy telegraph tO stations in the to-
DaccO regions. warnings uf ir0sts which
are likely to prove Injurious Go the tobacco
CROP. such frusts lO not occur every year.
but iu some cases much OF tho crop might
Oe saved. as was the case in Kentucky dur
.ne the past season through the medium OF
ihe State service boo that >t'te.
s. State weather service i'm Virginia
would also Doe valuable in presenting 90 the
notice oil those in search of summer resorts
0r winter resorts. reliable information as 90
twas known tO the general public. the result
could only Doe favorable tO the interests of
tne State. Ihe State service in Oregon has
been utilized loo That State as "a means OF at
tracing immigration lo that state. Similar
results would follow the organization
of State service in Virginia.
enclose copy of the first monthly
report or the Oregon State Weather Bureau.
/ which contains the BIN organizing the SER
.. cal Cal. I.IH d.
tO observers, and articles ON climate, health
and irrigation.
fYou can prevail upon the Legislature
tO give SOU sufficient funds % provide for the
publication of 90 monthly bulletin In some
neat form ID would Doe a great assistance o.
/ the service. There are state services coop
Grating with tAe Signal Service in every
southern state except Georgia. West Viz
/ -inid. Maryland. irgnid and Delaware.
not one %. which has been organized by
action Of tle legislature. and they are all
practically supported Dos ihe Signal Service.
Hoping chat you may De successful in
/ securing such au organization, and assur-
lng you lIat tAe chief signal officer will
I cooperate Oh the iull extent of his authOri-
I 49, t0 aid you in This work,
/ lm, very respectfully. your ObCdient SER
Faul III. III. tnunNo0d. Captain, Fourth
/ Artillery. signal Officer and Assistant.
] DIT, n. ~ DllIln NuiNlu NIelNl lue iuiluM-
Ing. which Was adopted:
/ Resolved That iu consideration OF the abb
,ence OF 3iaior ~. z. sutherln. Of Dam
Vile, tlat 1ic-srs. Brown and Gaines De-
added 90 tle special committee ON pro-
posed legislation oa the subject of iertiI-
/ llers. and ihli the committee Dee instructed
90 confer with Mr.. Wright, of the House OF
/ Delegates. and decide upon a BIN tO De sub
miiied before the Legislature upon this
subject without further report 10 this board.
Resolved. That the special for O'clock
Tonight last night shall Dee the discussion
of ihe provisions % tAe road bin now
agreed tO by the members oithe special COM
mittee appointed 20 DRAFT % bin on this sub
iec,, ana taat ihe same be- made The con-
iinuing order until disposed OF.
CALL Of TIE GOVERNOR.
Mr. C0rbn offered the following, which
was adopted: ~kesO.yed, Iaat the Sfata
Board of Agriculture call in a body ana
pay their respects 10 the GOVERNOR Ae-
corlingiy when the Board adjourned the,
proceeded % the Governors mansion, where
Ills LXcellency bad made preparations 10
receive them. and where they spent AN hour
or TWO in pleasant conversation.