New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-24
THE WEATHER BUREAU.
IT'S TRANSFER DO THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE.
TALK WITH ASSISTANT SECRETARY wrLIITs
TIRE PRESENT MACHINERY TO BE RE-
TANNED, BUT THE SCOPE OF ITS
USEFULNESS EXTENDED.

USEFULNESS EXTENDED.
Ter TELEGRAPH TO THE TlDUxK.l
Washington, Oct o3.-one Of tho important enact
mens Of the session the law which provides
FOR the transfer Of the Weather Bureau from tho
War Department to the Department Of Agriculture
This proposition had been discussed for several years
as part Of a general scheme to unity or consolidate -
far practicable the scientific work undertaken BY the
Government 1t always seemed 30 many persons who
have studied the subject that such consolidation
would be not only wise and natural. but an act OF
economy ':ell moreover, It has been regarded az
peculiarly homogeneous that the work Of bureau
which is chiefly designed for the Renefit
OF commerce and agriculture should be undep
the direction and control Of the War Depart
ment The effect OF the transfer will be watched with
deep and widespread interest for every person In the
countryevery traveller every merchant every dealer
IN the products Of the soil, every mechanic manu-
fscturcr. wortdngman and workingwomsn. every pro-
fessional man, and every mere idler and pleasure
seeker-is personally interested In the intelligence and
efficiency with which the weather service is conducted
as we'll are the shippers and shipowners mariners
and the millions who till the soil, plant orchards and
groves Of fruit, or raso iocks and herds.
In conversation with The Tribune correspondent to-
day the subject of the transfer Of the weather ser
vice, Assistant Secretary Willis. who will have the
general oversight of the work, said
The weather service does not TO us because OF
suggestion
partment at least far the present administration Is
concerned. Neither In respect this or the Fish
Commission. the transfer OF which is still occupying the
attention OF Congress- have thought proper to take
the initiative do anything than passivey 10 an.
such questions and upon such IA
have been officially referred to the Department by the
committees OF Congress the transfer OF the
the proposition to attach the other to this Department
arisen from any impression that either Of them has been
Incnlciently managed. So much Is due TO them. They
rank bevnn nxo burpa in
counrcs and IN fact have been the pioneers which other
nations followed and Initiated The transfer Of the
Weather Bureau Is natural sequel OF the elevation OF
this Department dignity OF executive department.
with Cabinet o1cer at its head. The design was TO
create a DEPARTMENT Of applied science, by
bling the unattached bureaus and officers now OK.
isting which engaged In Investigations allied
directly or remotely to agriculture, engaged In
kindred work-as well several which placed
among uncong genial surroundings and under influences
which are sympatheuc-under one head. where they
could aid other. ManIfeStly the best results and
the greatest be effected In this wsv All
great governments deal less with scientific prob
lens and science like art must be fostered Special
qualifications special training and favoring surroundings
are essential TO success in either
What are Won going to hope 10 DO with tho wealth
or service you ask. The question Is broad ono. and
canno, bc answered in sentence We going TO con.
nue all that present Signal Bureau Is doing or COM
uerce and continue for time OF least the use OF exactly
the same machinery. Congress has ihaica'eo II" "e'
|
{, would he an absurd assumption for Us
| to presume that could undertake at any
given moment the management with new men ana oy
untrled methods OF a bureau elaborate, and whose
functions are 30 complicated and delicate Doubtless
General Greedy and other accomplished and experienced
officers and men OF The Signal Service Will continue I"
crform they are engaged IN until their A'
duties shall claim them and until their successors can be
,lIv oualiNed Trained weather observers ana othor
mpoyes will be retained with civil status they eject
to do So But beyond the service now PERFORMED oy inc
Weather Bureau the transfer opens wlde heio OF uo
fulncss All natural sciences related and this De-
p,rtment though ostensitly limited to agriculture has
almost in sp.e Of itself already entered the broader held
OF general biology The study Of the conditions OF anma
bird and hfe is as necessary Tor agriculture " ~
study Of plant lfe In our forestry division we arc 'h
caentav serving the timber and lumber industries ana
nte,ests and even the railroads. In chemistry we are
conducting Investigations W food analysis "heh are Vi o
eft to all people In ornitholosy, mahHaoR!' ens0
moogy and vegetable pathology our researches are Vi I'M
portance to inteFests not directly cohheco WIN "
cuItnr, In the investigation Of fbrous plants all teNe
manufacturers watching u.s. AND TO what ah enormous
extent are our statistical reports sought for Dy the
ca interests OF the entire world Yet ostensiby we labor
for the single purpose benetng the man OF agriculture
Almost all the material related TO sercutrs
and almost everybody is Interested In the work tha Con
requires the department. OF hsre''
do. ,
tons OF this Departmental down to oetas- inc
study Of the effect OF changes OF locality Oh cinAr'
and OF coil upon vegetable lie, stuuy VIM" ~
az vet intrusted TO no single division unless II
he the much seed" division, but which Is the
subject Of attention by other division You "ouu
be surprised know tho widespread interest "hch az
taches to it, an interest which vitality engages the farmer
and all the people directly or indirectly Dependents
upon his prosperity. This is branch OF inquiry IN re-
srsct To which sorry We are hardly ABREAST
OF the nations OF Europe though we are fapdy gaming
this regard Take the single cereal wheat. "hAs 10
that changes the characteristics. for example OF rut1
tod
What is It which causes farm, say in Minnesota "hich
for dozen years has produced aonnoahuy "heas y. WI,
min variety to refuse longer TO produce That ho "hlo
IL VIII take kindly another VARIETY Is there "a" oy
which we can determine the best variety Tor gwen soi
TANNER ature or degree OF moisture when change
IA found TO be desrsbei We are expernenefs In 'hess
,epards and must perhaps remain 10 Tor years 70 coe
but We can least prove BY expe,'mens "nas oess "
Az though We may not readily determine why Ii oess'
W. already have the machinery for elaborate experiments
in the stations attached to the agricultural colleges OF 'h'
a,., s,.es These are supported In part by Govern
ment and in return they report 70 us hs
conduct experiments which suggested by US. A's~eh
70 these stations and colleges, To most OF them' ~
urc already weather service Observer detaeo oy INC
Bureau So you see, in this rounoaoo"' WAY VIC "
already related to that branch Of the Government again
rho signal Service is already engaged and has oeeh to'
rrs In making observations and Publishing forecssS ioi
the benefit OF agriculture such as the COTTON sugar 81
ohacco weathsr reports but In this regard shey arc W.
servers of the the benefit OF the crops NOV"
Ma nropose In time " make ulein ooseTNefs vi ~
crop and Of nature generally for the oeneht OF all con.
cerned The typical observer OF The future 1uy WILL
- - trcated in one of the agricultural colleges
scientific Institutions that have within neif scope the
problems Of agriculture. man with an ap1''oos Anu IN
,tIu.t for observing natural phenomena ne VIII
he An aaround Of science; mat Wousa " Wv nu.n
" o~no., hut h. will be qualified 70 obtain the data
w,,ch ,hs scientists at the bead Of the several
S,xs,oos Of the Department require for their
studies and which the farming Interests require
70 have inyssugateA. 1t Is such synehronsm OF OBJ
-, ,,, .nohes the Signal Service 70 forecast the
weather II is believed-nay kDown-hat the mucn irss
elusive conditions Of agriculture are susceptible Of W
proyement thorugh the same system OF eoscrVsNoh'
Again, we now have paid agents oil 'ne s.Aus' w.
1' e., an tho states and volunteer agents 10 all the
court.. NJ the Union 1t needs no argument 70 prove
that IN. man who gets q salary, and whose pros
and accufeCY